UN News Service (New York)

Somalia: Top UN Envoy Speaks Out Against Killings of Prominent Somalis

Denouncing the recent killings of several prominent Somalis, the top United Nations envoy to Somalia today called for an end to impunity and "lawlessness" in the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation.

Abdullahi Abdi Egaal, a member of the National Reconciliation Commission, and Hassan Mayow Hassan of Radio Shabelle were killed in separate incidents yesterday, while Deputy Minister for Reconciliation Ismail Hassan Timir was shot down on 27 December.

"This is a brazen disregard for international law and should no longer be tolerated by the Somali people," said Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, said, voicing sadness at learning of the "deliberate killings" of the three men who were promoting reconciliation in their nation.

"The perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said. "They should not be allowed to continue to perpetuate the lawlessness of the country."

In a press released issued in Nairobi, Mr. Ould-Abdallah offered his condolences to the families of those killed, as well as to the families of those still being held hostage.


Copyright © 2009 UN News Service. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • yabin762002
    Jan 4 2009, 04:28

    There is no formular to solve the muddy situation in Somalis crisis. How to get the military authority abide by the international regulations, seems unexpected. The U.N.envoys should seek some other effetive ways, to alert their African counterparts, about the damage possiblely caused by their ignorance.