SRSG Kay visits Puntland

13 Jul 2013

SRSG Kay visits Puntland

Garowe – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, arrived in Garowe, Puntland this morning for his first visit to the region since he assumed his duties as head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) on June 3.


On his arrival in Garowe, SRSG Nicholas Kay said “I am very pleased to visit Puntland and to meet with Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole. Puntland has played a key role to end the transitional period for Somalia and we look forward to its continued positive contribution support in the post-transition, peace-building phase.” He further expressed his condolences to the people and authorities of Puntland on the death of the late King Abdullahi.

In his meeting with President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole and other senior officials, SRSG Nicholas Kay explained UNSOM’s mandate which supports the building of national capacity, peacebuilding, good governance, security sector reform, rule of law, human rights, providing “good offices” for mediation and political reconciliation and coordination of international assistance.

During his visit, SRSG Kay will hand over the Attorney General and Judicial Council offices both built as part of the UNDP ‘Access to Justice’ Project, and he will meet with the Speaker of Puntland Parliament, members of civil society and the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission. He expressed hope that the local elections scheduled for 15 July would be conducted peacefully. “Puntland’s democratization process is important. Of course there are always lessons to be learned. UNSOM’s office in Garowe will engage the administration and civil society on all matters relating to our mandate” he said.