UN reaffirms commitment to Somalia operations

The top U.N. envoy on Somalia on Wednesday called on the country’s international partners to increase support to humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts there, while reaffirming that the world body has no plans to withdraw amid attacks on foreign diplomats and aid workers by al-Shabaab militants. “It’s a moment of great new opportunities but also some significant new challenges, and I think it’s important that the international community and partners maintain their interest in Somalia and increase, if at all possible, some of the resources,” Nicholas Kay told reporters at U.N. headquarters. Kay, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), emphasized that increased resources are vital for humanitarian efforts, strengthening the Somali army, and supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).