Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elias /  James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia at UN world headquarters Aug. 21, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  – NEW YORK –  James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), warned the Security Council Wednesday  that insecurity across Horn of Africa nation Somalia remains a serious concern.  Swan made his first briefing to the world body since taking office in charge of the UNSOM.  Swan noted that terrorism remains a threat to progress, citing the deadly al-Shabab attack on the offices of the mayor of Mogadishu in July, which killed and injured several Government officials.

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)

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 last month 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, killing at least seven Government officials and injuring several others. The mayor of Mogadishu later died after being badly wounded in an the al-Shabaab extremist attack in his office.  Swan noted the effectiveness of the collaboration between the UN and international partners, and the Somali Security Forces working with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has seen areas near the capital Mogadishu taken back from terror group al-Shabab, and stabilized.

Despite “encouraging” developments, insecurity across Somalia continues to be a serious concern, Swan told the Security Council Wednesday.   Regarding  the economic situation in Somalia,  Swan said that the Government has made “great strides” towards improving the country’s fiscal performance and strengthening governance, putting Somalia on the path towards economic recovery.   However,  the situation in Somalia is that of an ongoing humanitarian crisis that remains “one of the most protracted in the world”, with 2.2 million Somalis facing acute food insecurity, and 2.6 million internally displaced, fleeing conflict and drought.

Credit: U.S. State Department /  James Swan

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.