Vietnamese Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý on Monday condemned violence and attacks targeting civilians in Somalia during a UN Security Council videoconference on Somalia and the activities of the UN Assistance Mission in the African country (UNSOM).

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UNSOM James Swan, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Francisco Caetano José Madeira, and Managing Director of the EU’s European External Action Service Rita Laranjinha presented reports at the event. Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud Abubakar also delivered remarks.

Speakers noted that the government and federal member states of Somalia have made efforts to resolve disagreements over election processes, but expressed regret that these dialogues haven’t reached any agreements recently.

They appealed to relevant sides to soon resume negotiations and hold elections in accordance with the deal secured on September 17 last year.

Some participants also voiced concern over the Al-Shabaab militant group’s terrorist attacks using improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings targeting civilians and security and international forces.

They said that Somalia continued to face a humanitarian crisis caused by the impacts of floods, locusts, and COVID-19, asking the international community to keep assisting its government and people to weather this challenge.

In his speech, Ambassador Quý, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN, called on the Somalia government and federal member states to resume talks and set aside differences to achieve a political agreement about the time and plan for elections.

The diplomat also condemned Al-Shabaab’s violence and attacks against civilians, urging the Somali government to work closely with AMISOM to ensure security.

Quý recommended the UN, as well as regional and international organisations, boost aid for the country via humanitarian programmes and economic development projects while reiterating Việt Nam’s support for Somalia in its efforts towards peace, stability, and development.

The UNSOM was set up in 2013 to assist the peace and reconciliation process and the capacity building for the Somali government. Since then, the UNSOM has held meetings every three months to listen to reports on the mission’s activities. — VNS