By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : South Africa’s envoy Dumisani Kumalo said the Security Council members will tell all Somalis, government and opposition alike, when they meet them in Djibouti in early June, that the international community stands ready to assist them only if the political and security situations on the ground improve.
“The Somalis must get their house in order. If the security and political situations improve, once the world can see that this is happening, things will get better in Somalia,” Kumalo told a press conference on the eve of the council members trip to Africa.
Their 10-day trip will take them to Djibouti, instead of Somalia because of security risks, Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.
Kumalo said the 15 council members will meet in Djibouti not only with the Somali president, Prime minister, and key ministers, but also with opposition parties, civil society and the diplomatic community.
“We will encourage them to move the political process forward and hopefully change the security situation on the ground. If the Somalis are able to do this for themselves, there is the possibility and intention that the council will then consider whether it is appropriate to send a UN mission to their country that will take over from the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
He said the council’s “very important” meeting with Somali key players will “send a message that indeed the international community cares about their situation.” “The ability of the council to appeal directly to these people, not through a presidential statement or resolution,” he argued, “to express to them how much we want to see them resolve this issue and how much the international community is ready to assist them … will have a tremendous effect.”
“I will urge them not to miss this opportunity because it may never come again,” he warned.