Somali and Sudanese issues top discussions between Ban and Kenyan leaders

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today discussed the situation in Somalia and Sudan with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, with the United Nations chief taking note of progress since the adoption by Somalia’s leadership of a political roadmap on the restoration of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa country.

Mr. Ban reaffirmed UN support for the implementation of the roadmap by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with the support of the international community. The roadmap spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August, in the areas of security, the drafting of a new constitution and political reconciliation.

The Secretary-General welcomed the endorsement by the Kenyan Parliament yesterday of the Government’s decision to have the country’s troops join the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which he said needed to be brought to its full capacity.

In the discussions with Mr. Kibaki and Kenya’s Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula, Mr. Ban noted that security developments in Somalia should be in support of the TFG, and that interventions should be aligned with Somalia’s political objectives.

The Secretary-General also commended Kenya for continuing to provide support to refugees from Somalia, and welcomed the additional security measures taken in the camps hosting them.

On Sudan, Mr. Ban, the President and the Foreign Minister discussed the need to resolve outstanding issues in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between Sudan and South Sudan, particularly the question of the disputed area of Abyei.

The Secretary-General underlined the importance of harmonizing the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan, including with the assistance of other countries in the region.