LATEST NEWS AND STATEMENTS

• Somalia – Visit to London by Pascal Canfin (07.05.13)

  This conference aims to strengthen the partnership between the Somali authorities and the international community in order to support the stabilization process under way. It will be co-chaired by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud.

• Somalia – Appointment of Mr. Nicholas Kay as special representative of the UN secretary-general (30.04.13)

  France assures Mr. Nicholas Kay of its full support and pays tribute to the current special representative, Mr. Augustine Mahiga, who has worked with determination for three years to improve the political, security and humanitarian situation in Somalia.

• Somalia – Murder of a journalist (21.04.13)

  France utterly condemns the murder, on April 21, 2013, in Mogadishu, Mohamed Ibrahim Rageh, a journalist working for Somali National Television. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

• Somalia – Terrorist attacks in Mogadishu (14.04.13)

  France utterly condemns the terrorist attacks carried out on April 14 in Mogadishu, notably against the Somali capital’s courthouse.

• Somalia - Murder of a journalist (21.01.13)

  France utterly condemns the murder of Abdihared Osman, a Somali journalist at Radio Shabelle, on 18 January 2013 in Mogadishu, and extends her sincere condolences to his family and friends.

• Somalia – Signing of an agreement with the International Organization for Migration (14.01.13)

  On January 9, France signed an agreement with the International Organization for Migration to implement a project aimed at supporting the vulnerable and internally displaced populations in the Somali provinces of Gedo and Lower Juba, as well as in Mogadishu.

• Somalia - Formation of a new government (14.11.12)

  On the occasion of the formation of the Somali government, France congratulates the new ministers on their appointment and wishes them success. We also welcome the appointment of two women to positions of responsibility – that of deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and that of minister of social services development.

• Somalia – Murder of a media professional (31.10.12)

  France strongly condemns the murder of the satirist and musician, Warsame Shire Awale, on October 29. We extend our condolences to his loved ones as well as to his colleagues at the private radio station Radio Kulmiye.

• Murder of a journalist in Somalia (29.10.12)

  We are more concerned than ever about the increase in the number of attacks against journalists and media workers in Somalia. France calls on the Somali authorities to immediately strengthen the measures necessary to protect those who defend the right to information.

• Murder of a journalist in Somaliland (23.10.12)

  This new murder brings the number of journalists killed this year in Somalia to 16. France reaffirms its solidarity with and its support for the Somali journalists who continue to courageously carry out their work in extremely difficult conditions.

• Somalia: appointment of Abdi Farah Shirdon as prime minister (08.10.12)

  France notes with satisfaction the determination of the new authorities to re-establish the rule of law and security in the country, in order to revitalize the economy and promote reconciliation.

• Somalia – Murder of two journalists in Mogadishu (01.10.12)

  France reaffirms its attachment to the freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. It calls on the states to ensure the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, notably UNSCR 1738 and the resolution on the safety of journalists that has just been adopted by the Human Rights Council.

• Somalia - Murders of the journalist Hassan Yusuf Absuge and of the lawmaker, Mustaf Haji Mohamed (24.09.12)

  France denounces these persistent attempts by terrorist groups to destabilize the national reconciliation process in Somalia and reaffirms its attachment to the respect for fundamental freedoms.

• Somalia – Murder of a journalist in Mogadishu (18.09.12)

  France reaffirms its constant commitment to the freedom of the press throughout the world and to the right of journalists to freely exercise their profession.

• Attack against the Somali president (13.09.12)

  France stands alongside Somalia and reaffirms its full support for the president and the new institutions in their efforts to promote stability, security, human rights, democracy and development.

• Somalia – Election of the new Somali president (11.09.12)

  France congratulates him and wishes him success at an especially important moment in Somalia’s history. His election marks the end of the transition period. It’s a crucial step in the national reconciliation process and in the political process, which must continue to move toward the establishment of democratic institutions.

• Somalia – Political process (20.08.12)

  France continues to stand alongside Somalia in its efforts to stabilize the country, in particular through its support for AMISOM and the training of Somali soldiers within the framework of the EU Training Mission (EUTM) for Somalia. We call for commitments from new contributors in order to support the European Union’s efforts to finance AMISOM.

• Somalia - Adoption by the Transitional Federal Government of an action plan to end the killing and maiming of children (10.08.12)

  Protecting children’s rights is one of France’s human rights priorities. France is striving to universalize the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It urges Somalia to complete the process for ratifying this instrument, which has already been ratified by nearly all UN member states.

• Somalia - attacks (10.08.12)

  France condemns the attack that killed eight Somali soldiers in Mogadishu’s Huriwa district.

• Somalia - Adoption of a Provisional Constitution (02.08.12)

  France welcomes the August 1st adoption of a Provisional Constitution for Somalia by the Somali Constituent Assembly, which has been meeting in Mogadishu since July 25. It should make it possible to conclude the transition process, scheduled for August 20.

• Somalia – Murder of media professional Abdi Jeylani Malaq Marshale (02.08.12)

  France condemns in the strongest possible terms the July 31st killing in Mogadishu of Abdi Jeylani Malaq Marshale, a media professional with the Kulmiye radio station and Universal TV.

• Istanbul Conference II on Somalia (31.05-01.06.12)

  This Conference is part of the follow-up to the London Conference on Somalia in February which allowed the international community to strongly reaffirm its commitment to supporting the Somali people during this crucial time for the future of their country marked by an improvement in the security situation and the prospect of establishing new institutions by the end of the so-called “transition” period on August 20.