Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Somalia Augustine Mahiga on Saturday (December 8th) welcomed the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development's (IGAD) Grand Stabilisation Plan for Somalia.
The Somali government and IGAD signed a memorandum of understanding during meetings last week in Addis Ababa after the IGAD Joint Committee was expanded to include Somalia.
Under the agreement, the stabilisation 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.
"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," Mahiga said in a statement.
He 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 neighbouring countries.