UN Special Representative for Somalia Appeals for Restraint

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Stockholm – 8 September 2005: The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia (SRSG), Francois Lonseny Fall, today appealed for restraint as tension builds up in Jowhar as a result of military movements in and around the town.

Thirteen United Nations International staff were relocated from Jowhar in the early afternoon in the face of the military buildup and a warning issued on Wednesday in the form of a Press Release circulated in Mogadishu. Six UN staff members were flown to Wajid in southwestern Somalia and seven were relocated temporarily in Nairobi.

“I am concerned at the escalation of tensions in Jowhar and Mogadishu, and appeal for restraint from all parties whatever their differences,” Mr. Fall said. “I urge all sides to make a serious effort to begin an inclusive dialogue. It's high time that the Transitional Federal Institutions begin to function as intended. Their inability to resolve their differences is undermining the very essence of the agreements they reached after the national reconciliation conference last October.”

Mr. Fall said there could be no military solution to the divisions that have persisted in Somalia for so long. “The suffering of the population has continued at unacceptable cost to all Somalis for more than 14 years,” he said

Mr. Fall reminded the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN international and national staff as well as to respect the sanctity of UN premises.

Mr Fall is currently in Stockholm as part of a three-country visit to seek a strong involvement of political leaders for his efforts to foster dialogue within the Transitional Federal Institutions. He is also appealing that the international community speaks with one voice on dialogue.

He met today with the Swedish State Secretary for International Development (Ms. Annika Soder). Mr. Fall also met a number of Senior Officials, including Hans Dahlgren, Sweden's State Secretary for Political Affairs as well as the Somali diaspora in Sweden. Earlier in the week he met in London with Britain's Secretary for International Development at DFID, Hilary Benn (5 September) and with Lord David Triesman, Under Secretary for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (6 September) and with Senator Alfredo Mantica, the Italian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.

For more information please contact: UN Political Office for Somalia(Nairobi, Kenya) Tel. +254 20 762 21 31 Please visit: www.UN-Somalia.org