[As delivered]
Mr. President, ministers, journalists, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be in Baidoa again today, and to have the opportunity to meet with President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ and members of his administration. I wish to thank the President and his team for their warm hospitality and their welcome.
The President and I discussed a wide range of state and national issues, including security, preparations for elections, and humanitarian needs.
He briefed me on efforts to strengthen security across South West State, as well as on the successful recovery of Sabiid and Bariire, in Lower Shabelle.
We also spoke about the challenges of supporting displaced communities at a time of uncertainty in humanitarian funding. I assured the President that, despite global funding shortfalls, the United Nations will continue to do its utmost within available resources to assist those most in need.
The President also briefed me on the voter registration drive in South West State, including mobile registration initiatives designed to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, internally displaced persons, and marginalised communities.
On national issues, I underscored the importance of unity and inclusive dialogue among Somalia’s political and Federal Member State leaders, and I noted that President Abdiaziz has played a constructive role in such efforts in the past and could also play a helpful role in the future.
In conclusion, let me stress that the United Nations will remain a partner to South West State and to the Federal Government of Somalia in advancing peace, state-building, responses to security threats, and humanitarian and development needs of the Somali people.
Thank you, Mr. President.