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News > World

Somalia: UN Envoy's Expulsion Follows al-Shabab Attack on Base

  • Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on the Somali UN base.

    Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on the Somali UN base. | Photo: Reuters FILE

Published 2 January 2019
Opinion

The letter requesting Haysom’s expulsion was released only hours before two UN staff members and a contractor were injured in a mortar attack.

Somalian authorities have ordered special representative of the United Nations (UN) secretary-general for the country, Nicholas Haysom, to end his diplomatic duties, citing intercession.

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"The decision came after the highest UN diplomat in Somalia violated the agency's standards and the international diplomatic norms by intervening the national sovereignty of Somalia," according to a statement published by the government-run media.

The letter requesting Haysom’s expulsion was released only hours before two UN staff members and a contractor were injured when seven mortars were hurled inside the compound of the United Nations in the capital.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented that “such acts will not diminish the strong resolve of the United Nations to continue supporting the people and Government of Somalia in their efforts to build peace and stability in the country.”

Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Today's indirect fire attack on the main UN compound in Mogadishu may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law, and I deplore this unwarranted act of aggression against our personnel," Haysom said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

"No political agenda can be served through violence that deliberately targets staff members of international organizations who are supporting the consolidation of peace and the strengthening of governing institutions in Somalia," the soon-to-be-deposed envoy added.

Haysom, on Monday, reportedly directed criticism - regarding a human rights issue - to the Somali Government.

Reports are that the UN special representative urged authorities of the African nation to "exercise its authority in conformance with the law and provide [an] explanation about the atrocities committed in Baidoa last month and the detention of Mukhtar Robow."

Robow, who is identified as a former al-Shabab leader, was detained by the security forces last month and prompted unrest leading to protest.

Haysom, who was appointed as a special representative to Somalia by Guterres, also served as Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in September 2018.

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