UN Special Representative James Swan's stakeout remarks in Baidoa, South West State

18 Jul 2019

UN Special Representative James Swan's stakeout remarks in Baidoa, South West State

Baidoa – First of all, allow me to thank President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ and the people of South West State for the kind and gracious way in which they have received us during this visit.

Baidoa is the fourth stop in my initial round of meetings in Federal Member States around the country since I assumed the position of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative. 

Part of the reason I’m here is to help strengthen our collaboration regarding political, capacity-building and humanitarian activities, in addition to economic development and state-building efforts, as well as to tell the people of South West State that the UN family is striving to respond to their needs so that we have a real, positive impact in addressing the multiple challenges that the state faces.

There are various ways in which the UN and the South West State authorities collaborate to help the state’s inhabitants. 

Through UNSOM’s office in Baidoa – which is the second largest in the country after Mogadishu –UNSOM supports South West State on a number of key projects. 

These include the construction of rehabilitation centres for former members of violent extremist groups, helping the state demands caused by internally displaced persons, and supporting AMISOM and Somali forces to improve security and this security will, in turn, contribute to unlocking the state’s economic potential.

I can’t leave this media encounter without also sharing my wider message on the need for good relations between Federal Member States, like South West State, and the Federal Government. This kind of relationship is vital for delivering services and good government to the Somali people. It is a message I have conveyed in Mogadishu and in all of the Federal Member States I have visited. 

Thank you again to South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ and his team for hosting me on this productive visit.