Credit: UN Photo/ /  James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefs the Security Council on the situation in Somalia at UN world headquarters Feb. 24, 2020.

By  Gary Raynaldo         DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS   –   NEW  YORK  –   James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), warned the Security Council Monday that terrorist, jihadist  group Al-Shabaab retains the ability to conduct large scale attacks in the Horn of Africa nation Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu.  “Turning to the security situation, let me first pay tribute to the courage of the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia in confronting al-Shabaab,” Swan told the Security Council.  The UN diplomat said there has been steady, commendable progress in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions including implementation of biometric registration, electronic payment of salaries for the security forces, and personnel records. However, Swan said Al-Shabaab remains a dangerous, unrestrained threat.

“Despite efforts by the SNA,  AMISOM and international partners, regrettably Al Shabaab retains the ability to conduct large scale attacks in Mogadishu, including against the UN and the international community, and in the recently recovered areas in Lower Shabelle. It is also able generate significant revenue through extortion, as well as to conduct operations beyond Somalia’s borders.”

-James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) 

UN Envoy Swan Apparent Target Of Assassination Attempt In Mogadishu Last Year 

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 July 2019  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.

Swan told the UN Security Council Monday that it is essential that the Somali government clarify its operational priorities and generates the necessary forces to enable operations to degrade al-Shabaab, defend recently recovered areas and reopen main supply routes.

SOMALIA Makes Progress In Reducing Its Debt:  UN Envoy Swan

On the economic front in Somalia, Swan to the Security Council there is good progress on Somalia’s economic priorities.  “The Executive Boards of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have confirmed Somalia’s eligibility for debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.  This milestone demonstrates, that with unity and common purpose, the federal government and federal member states can achieve even highly ambitious goals,” Swan said. The UN diplomat added that there has been progress in the passage of key legislation to strengthen Somalia’s fiscal framework, such as the Companies Act and the Public Financial Management Act.  Swan also noted that the 2020 budget approved by Parliament and signed by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ reflects steadily increasing revenue generation.

SOMALIA Human Rights 

In the area of human rights Somalia has submitted its first ever treaty report on the Convention Against Torture, Swan said. He said it has signed the Kampala Convention on the protection and assistance of IDPs, and it has approved its National Policy on Refugees-Returnees and IDPs.

“There is much to do in the year ahead.  Only by working together, as Somalis, as partners, and in a spirit of unity and compromise, will progress be made.  Further impetus and consensus-building are needed to ensure that key 2020 benchmarks for elections, security, and relations between the Federal Government and Federal Member States do not fall further behind schedule.”

James Swan,  UN Envoy Somalia

“2020 has the potential to be a trans-formative year for Somalia. Last October at the Somalia Partnership Forum, Somalia and its international partners agreed the main priorities on which Somalia ‘must not fail’ in 2020. These include achieving debt relief, holding one person one vote elections, finalising the federal constitution, advancing the fight against al-Shabaab, and consolidating the federal state.”

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.