Top UN envoy meets with Somali President and Prime Minister

The top United Nations envoy for Somalia today discussed the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa nation with the country’s President and Prime Minister.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah met with President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and recently-appointed Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein in the town of Baidoa in southern Somalia.

“I discussed with the President and Prime Minister the need to address the crisis in a peaceful manner by involving all Somalis in the future of their country,” Mr. Ould-Abdallah said in a statement.

“The current situation is a good opportunity for Somalis and all their friends who would like to help join the UN in its work for peace.”

Somalia, which has lacked a functioning government since 1991, has been wracked by violence in recent months which has displaced a total of 1 million people.

Mr. Ould-Abdallah’s trip to Baidoa comes on the heels of his meetings last week with the Government of Djibouti, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and members of Somalia’s opposition.

Since taking office this September, this is the Special Representative’s second trip to Somalia.