(Security): U. N Chief on 'Solidarity' Visit to Somalia

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres began a brief visit to Somalia in Mogadishu on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Mr. Guterres was greeted on arrival at the Somali capital's airport by Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse.

The authorities have drastically tightened security in Mogadishu for the unannounced visit. Most roads were closed and public transport restricted.

The visit by Guterres, who previously visited Somalia in March 2017, comes as the country is in the grip of a disastrous drought that has pushed many to the brink of starvation, and the government is engaged in a major offensive to counter a bloody Islamist insurgency.

The UN has launched an appeal for $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid for the troubled Horn of Africa country, but it is currently only 13% funded.

About half the population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million people affected by the drought, according to the UN.

Somalia was already hit by a famine in 2011 that killed 260,000 people, more than half of whom were children under the age of six, partly because the international community did not respond quickly enough, according to the UN.

In a report to the UN Security Council in February, Antonio Guterres said 2022 had been the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, largely due to Shebab attacks.

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