Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  James Swan, head of the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), speaks at the International Peace Institute forum in New York City February 25, 2020  discussion of Somalia’s recent progress and immediate future.

By Gary Raynaldo         DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

NEW  YORK  –  James Swan, head of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), said the Horn-of-Africa nation Somalia in making good economic progress and that 2020 can be “the year of delivery” for the country.  Swan  spoke at a forum held at the International Peace Institute Tuesday Feb. 25, 2020  in New York City to discuss Somalia’s recent progress and immediate future.  Ambassador Swan noted that 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. Swan said the government of Somalia is on the  track to clear  $5 billion of long standing national debt.

 “Two years ago, this would have been ridiculed as unlikely, but this is an outstanding achievement for the government and federal member states in collaborating to move a dossier forward.”

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

IMF Announces Financing Milestone on Debt Relief for Somalia

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva this week  announced that the International Monetary Fund has secured sufficient financing pledges to allow the Fund to provide comprehensive debt relief to Somalia. Over 100 IMF member countries have pledged to provide more than SDR 242 million (US$334 million) in financing, according to Georgieva.  Once all pledges are formalized, a process will be followed of clearance of arrears to the Fund and new Fund financing that will enable the delivery of HIPC Initiative and other debt relief to Somalia. This will help unlock significant new amounts of development assistance and pave the way for higher and more inclusive growth, the IMF managing director said.

“Today’s financing milestone opens up a historic opportunity for Somalia to move toward comprehensive debt relief from the IMF and the international community. We are firmly committed to supporting Somalia in its recovery after a long period of conflict and devastation.” 

-IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Feb. 26, 2020. 

UNITED KINGDOM  Provided $400 Million In Assistance to  SOMALIA 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /   Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN at the  IPI in New York City forum on Somalia  Feb. 25, 2020. 

Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN also spoke at the IPI panel discussion on Somalia  in New York City.  The  UK is the Pen Holder on  the UN Security Council, leading the work the Council does on Somalia and the AMISOM in the political and security areas.

“From the United Kingdom’s perspective, Somalia has never been an important priority for us (as now). It is very important that  the international community does not take its eye off this very important part of Africa. We all share the same goal of an increasing secure, stable, prosperous Somalia. As the United Kingdom, we have  been supporting Somalia government national development plan with significant humanitarian funding. All of the UK’s financial support has totaled $400 million just last year alone.   We also support the African Union Mission (in Somalia)  in its effort to help Somalia tackle the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.”

-Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN.

The Primary Objective Is To Help The Somalian People:  UN Envoy  Swan

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  James Swan, head of the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), speaks at the International Peace Institute forum in New York City February 25, 2020  discussion of Somalia’s recent progress and immediate future.

UN envoy Swan said the world humanitarian organization’s priority is to help the Somalian people.  Somalia continues to be in “dire” need of humanitarian assistance and support, he noted, adding that over the past year there had been 30 humanitarian crises, including both droughts and floods. “Last year, $1 billion was needed, and 2020 will likely be the same.”   He added:   “Consensus is needed not just between the government and the member states, but also with other parties of opposition and civil society,” he said. “These are the priorities of the Somali government. We as international partners being supported by the UN are seeking to advance these priorities in any way we can, but there is only so much that can be done at the technical level in the absence of urgently needed political consensus.”

Islamist group al-Shabab retains the ability to conduct “shocking terrorist attacks” in Mogadishu:  Swan 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  (Left) Jake Sherman, director of IPI’s Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, moderated the  IPI  panel discussion on Somalia,  with  James Swan, head of the United Nations Mission in Somalia  New York City February 25, 2020. 

With regard to security and justice,  Swan admitted  that the militant Islamist group al-Shabab retains the ability to conduct “shocking terrorist attacks” in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country but said that the Somali government had faced the security sector gaps identified in a key 2017 report “honestly and squarely and made substantive reforms.” One result of that he cited was that Somali forces joined by troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) had succeeded in retaking captured towns.

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  James Swan, head of the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

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.