Following successful elections, the longer-term objective for Somalia and the international community “has to be” to prevent famine from “ever happening again.”

That’s the view of the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNSOM, Michael Keating.

He was at UN Headquarters in New York to address the Security Council on conditions in Somalia, which despite major political advances, still faces major challenges from drought, and the extremist militants of Al-Shabaab.

He told Council members Somalia was experiencing a “moment of both tragedy and hope.”

Alban Mendes de Leon spoke to him after the meeting.

Duration: 5’28”