Mogadishu – The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the visit by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Baidoa to meet with supporters of opposing state formation processes.

Last week the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) called for urgent consultations with all political and traditional leaders in Baidoa to ease tensions between supporters of different state formation initiatives in the region.

“The United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) will continue to support the Federal Government of Somalia's consultations with political and traditional leaders in Baidoa. This important visit underlines the commitment of the Federal Government to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” said SRSG Kay.

“I call on all parties to work constructively with the Government to find a peaceful and inclusive solution and avoid any actions that could pose a security threat or undermine stability. We will continue to work closely with international partners, particularly the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to foster reconciliation and state formation processes under the leadership of the FGS,” Mr Kay concluded.