Somalia urges relief agencies to return

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Saturday called on humanitarian and development actors working on Somalia to return to help in the reconstruction of the Horn of Africa nation.

Speaking at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Summit of Regional Heads of State on durable solutions for the protracted Somali refugee situation in Nairobi, Mohamed said several parts of Somalia are largely peaceful despite attacks from the militants.

"We understand that there are serious security limitations in certain areas, but the vast majority of our country is relatively peaceful. And experience shows us that, when partners operate within Somalia, their impact is qualitatively better than those operating remotely," Mohamed said.

He pledged to increase security for all relief agencies in the Horn of Africa nation and promised to fix humanitarian challenges to enable agencies to work from inside Somalia.

The Horn of Africa nation has been mired in conflict since civil war broke out in 1991 and is one of the most difficult countries for relief agencies to operate in.

The UN says over 100 violent incidents resulted in the death of nine, injury of 11, arrest and detention of 16, abduction of three and physical assault of five humanitarian personnel also took place by September 2016.

The Islamist group Al-Shabaab which is fighting to topple the Western-backed government has been targeting humanitarian workers for political gain, sometimes demanding ransom in order to free the hostages.

Mohamed said his government will implement various projects and programs in partnership with the agencies.

"My administration will empower relevant line ministries to cooperate with all of you. And we will hold each other accountable to achieving declared objectives," he said.

He said the problem of Somali refugees in the region has been going on for far too long and urged international community to move swiftly to find a lasting solution to the menace.

"I'm confident that you will continue to honor the institution of asylum as enshrined in the international humanitarian conventions and maintain our people in safety and dignity in the best tradition of African hospitality," Mohamed told the summit.

"From our side, we will increase our effort to jointly achieve the objective of this conference on the voluntary return of our people in a safe and dignified manner, and to provide durable solutions so that they can participate in the rebuilding of a prosperous and peaceful Somalia at peace and harmony with itself and its neighbors," he added.