Isku xirrada

War Deg-Deg ah

Ban Says UN 'Losing Patience' With Somali Leaders


United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says the world body is growing impatient with infighting among Somali political leaders.

The secretary-general made his remarks Wednesday at an African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital.

Mr. Ban commended Somali government troops and AU peacekeepers for making what he called "striking gains" against the militant group al-Shabab in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

But, he added, U.N. Security Council and international donors are "losing patience with the political tensions within the Somali leadership."

He said the government and parliament must show real progress toward drafting a new constitution, reconciling Somalia's many factions, providing basic services and improving security.

Somalia has not had a functioning central government for years, in part because of disputes among top leaders. Currently, the president and speaker of parliament are at odds over whether lawmakers should elect a new president in August.


The government's mandate is due to end that month. The government has proposed extending the mandate by a year but is opposed by the parliament, which recently extended its own mandate for three years.

Despite the tensions, government and AU soldiers have succeeded in reclaiming parts of Mogadishu and southern Somalia from al-Shabab.

The militant group had controlled most of the capital since 2008.

XS
SM
MD
LG