James Swan, the new UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, receives a guard of honor mounted by the UN Guard Unit upon his arrival at Aden Abdulle International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia, on 25 June 2019.  (UN Photo / Ilyas Ahmed)

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS    –   The  new UN envoy to war-torn Horn of Africa nation Somalia was the  intended target of a female suicide bomber ‘s deadly terror attack Wednesday in the  capital city Mogadishu, AP reported.  The attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber targeting the offices of the mayor of Mogadishu, reportedly killing at least seven Government officials and injuring several others.  UN diplomat James Swan visited with the mayor but left an hour before the bombing, according to the AP report. UN Secretary-General António Guterres  appointed of Swan, an American diplomat,  as his Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).  The move came some five months after the previous UN envoy to Somalia,  Nicholas Haysom,  was expelled from the Horn of Africa nation after the government declared him ‘persona non grata’.  

 UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned Wednesday’s deadly terror attacks in Somalia

Credit: Gary Raynaldo  /  United Nations Secretary-General Deputy Spokesman  Farhan Haq at press briefing at UN world headquarters in New York Jul. 25, 2019. 

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the deadly terrorist attacks that took place in Mogadishu today, directed against the offices of the Benadir Regional Administration and in the surroundings of Villa Somalia. The Secretary-General extends his deep condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.  He reiterates the full support and solidarity of the United Nations with the people and Federal Government of Somalia. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Somalia in the pursuit of peace, stability and development.”

-Statement from UN Secretary-General António Guterres

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Thursday that “We don’t have any have particular information connecting the bombing to Mr. Swan.”   Haq added:   “Any threats, against any UN personnel anywhere in the world, are a matter of grave concern for the Secretary-General.  We want to make sure that all of our personnel everywhere are protected and are able to go about their work free of any hindrance and free of any threats.”

UN Envoy Swan Described Mogadishu Bombing as a “Heinous Attack”

Credit: / US Department of State /  Ambassador James Swan

Swan had met the mayor at the offices earlier in the day, to discuss progress and challenges in the capital and surrounding areas, according to the UN.   Swan, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNSOM, described the bombing as a “heinous attack”, that “demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life”, in a statement released by the Mission.

Swan is a seasoned 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.  In his earlier career,  Swan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2006 to 2008, and Director of African Analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2005 to 2006.  Prior to these, Swan held various assignments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Haiti.

Credit:  UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe / Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia, on 3 January 2019.  Swan succeeded Haysom as UN  Envoy in Somalia. 

The Somalian government was apparently upset that Haysom had raised concern about the killing of protesters allied with ex-militant Islamist Mukhtar Robow, the BBC reported.   Security forces were allegedly involved in the deaths of about 15 of the protesters and the detention of about 300 people, the UN says, BBC reported.       After the Somalian government expelled Haysom and labeled him ‘persona non grata’,  the UN made it clear that the Horn of Africa nation could not designate Haysom as such because the the UN is not a State. The government of Somalia  kicked Haysom out of the country just four months after taking up  his  post  for “violating protocols” and “deliberately interfering” in the internal affairs of the nation  However, Guterres said in a statement at the time that the declaration is meaningless in the context of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

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