The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Omar Sharmarke, the Prime Minister of Somalia. The Secretary-General welcomed continued political progress in Somalia. Recalling the importance of respecting constitutional term limits in 2016, he encouraged broad-based, nation-wide consultations for an inclusive electoral process. The Secretary-General reiterated the firm support of the United Nations at this critical juncture to Somalia’s peace and state-building process.   

The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also discussed the need for a comprehensive approach to Al Shabaab in Somalia, the importance of building capacity to ensure respect for human rights and accountability, and the need to support Somalia’s economic recovery and sustainable development, in particular programmes for the youth. The Secretary-General welcomed the Government’s decision to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child today.     

New York, 1 October 2015