NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 2 – The latest developments in Somalia were in the agenda of a meeting at the United Nations between the Italian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General, James Swan.
Massari reiterated that Italy and the European Union remain committed to backing essential reforms and security in the country, also by supporting the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. “We stand engaged to address Somali needs, already endangered by a severe drought”, said the Ambassador.
A little bit more that two weeks ago the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu was attacked by al-Shabaab gunmen leaving 30 people dead and several others injured. Mr. Swan, who was appointed by Secretary General Antonio Guterres Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in 2019, is meeting Permanent Representatives ahead of his briefing of the Security Council next week on the dire situation in the country.
He is an experienced diplomat with a long international career in the United States Government. He spent most of his career in African countries facing complex political transitions. He served as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2013 to 2016, US Special Representative for Somalia from 2011 to 2013, and Ambassador to Djibouti from 2008 to 2011. (@OnuItalia)
