UN Envoy: Civilian casualties on the rise in Somalia
NY October 20, 2023 (QJ) -The United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia who recently spoke at the security council issued a strong warning on Thursday regarding a serious increase in casualties in Somalia.
Catriona Laing, a British diplomat who assumed the position of UN Special Representative earlier this year, attributed the uptick to the attacks by Al-Shabaab and the conflicts in Somaliland.
“The conflicts in Somalia have brought significant suffering to the civilian population. Last year, we witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties since 2017,” Laing told the council. “Regrettably, early reports indicate a changing trend in 2023, with 1,289 documented civilian casualties so far.”
The Envoy told the council that Al-Shabaab has been engaged in intense fighting against the Somali government for more than 15 years.
The group has maintained a presence in the country’s rural areas, despite being pushed out of major cities, particularly in the central and southern regions. They have carried out ongoing attacks targeting security forces, politicians, and civilians.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office in May last year, has promised to step up the fight against Al-Shabaab, which continues to carry out devastating attacks in the region, often crossing into neighboring Kenya.
Somaliland, on the other hand, has experienced months-long clashes involving its military and clan militias who challenged their authority, as it continues to seek international recognition as a separate state since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, although it has not gained official recognition.
Addressing the Security Council, Laing urged all stakeholders to “reassess their support for the drawdown and withdrawal of ATMIS to ensure that the mandate of the mission is fulfilled with the necessary, accountable, and sustainable handover to Somali security forces.”
The US representative at the meeting, Robert Wood, also emphasized that Washington “is committed to supporting efforts by Somalia and the African Union to establish effective Somali security sector institutions.”