The United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahiga, on Saturday (December 8th) welcomed IGAD's Grand Stabilization Plan for South-Central Somalia.

Ambassador Mahiga in a statement said: "The initiative empowers the population at all levels in the newly recovered areas of south-central Somalia to determine administrative and political arrangements in the Federal Republic of Somalia". He also called on the international community to support the Somali Federal Government and regional partners' efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in Somalia and in neighboring countries.

Ambassador Mahiga's statement followed a signed agreement between members of the Committee of the IGAD Grand Stabilization Plan for South-Central Somalia: Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and the IGAD secretariat. The IGAD Committee is also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding shortly. The Joint Committee's meeting in Addis Ababa last week included Somalia as a new member of the committee.

Under the agreement, the stabilization plan includes promoting political reconciliation, establishing local administrations, developing integrated national security capacities, establishing rule of law and delivering the necessary assistance to communities in need.