缅北禁地

26 September 2014 鈥� Somalia is at a critical juncture in its efforts to achieve security and stability, the country鈥檚 President told the United Nations General Assembly calling for continued support to strengthen Somalia as a security and ideological 鈥渇irewall.鈥�

Addressing the 69th high-level debate of the 缅北禁地General Assembly, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud听听that Somalia will meet the world鈥檚 aspirations for a better future, 鈥淲e have a country that is beginning to unite as a nation, behind a vision that will see a federal and united Somalia in 2016.鈥�

He noted that his Federal Government is taking concrete steps to engage all Somalis, including women and minority groups, in the political process of nation-building.

鈥淥ur success requires the support of our international partners, but most of all it demands the ownership and commitment of the Somali people,鈥� he said.

The President鈥檚 address follows a high-level meeting on Somalia held earlier this week on the margins of the General Assembly鈥檚 opening high-level session.

During the event,听听Ban Ki-moon noted that the Somali peace process is 鈥済athering momentum鈥� but warned that there is 鈥渕uch work still ahead鈥� for the Horn of Africa country.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr. Ban voiced optimism that the country was on track to achieving political and national stability through the Somali Federal Government鈥檚 鈥淰ision 2016鈥� plan for a political transformation, to which Mr. Mohamud alluded in his speech.

In his address, the President also noted the humanitarian threat facing Somalia with around 3.2 million people in need of life-saving or livelihood saving aid.

A $933 million humanitarian appeal for the country remains 鈥渟everely underfunded鈥� with only 32 per cent of the amount received.