Tuesday 29 July 2025 {HMC} UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned against the use of hunger as a tool of war and called for urgent reforms to a global food system that is failing millions.

“We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war,” Guterres said in a video message to heads of state and international delegates at the opening of the second UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The UN chief said conflict continues to be a leading driver of hunger, pointing to crisis zones from Gaza to Sudan and beyond where violence is pushing people into deeper levels of food insecurity.

Many international actors have accused Israel of using famine and starvation in Gaza as a weapon of war.

Guterres highlighted the systemic failures contributing to the crisis, noting that one-third of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet, while one-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted.

He added that the hidden costs of food systems, which are measured in health, environmental damage, and human suffering, amount to $10 trillion per year, nearly three times the value of the food economy itself.

“This is not just a crisis of scarcity but of justice, equity, and climate,” Guterres said.

The three-day summit is co-hosted by the governments of Ethiopia and Italy, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Opening remarks were delivered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who are co-hosting the event, and other leaders in attendance, including Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Kenyan President William Ruto.

Senior UN officials, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, IFAD President Alvaro Lario, and UNDP Africa Regional Director Ahunna Eziakonwa, also addressed the gathering.

The summit is focused on assessing progress since the first such summit in 2021. Its agenda is guided by three core priorities: reflecting on national and global progress, strengthening partnerships and tracking commitments, and unlocking financing to accelerate food systems transformation.

Sadik Kedir Abdu

Tuesday July 29, 2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the AU Headquarters on Monday, on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the peace and security situation in Somalia and the broader region. The Chairperson commended President Hassan Sheikh for the progress made in Somalia’s stabilization and development efforts.

He also reaffirmed the African Union’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia on its path to peace and security. President Hassan Sheikh, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and the AU’s continued support.
The meeting came just a few hours after the arrival of the new Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), El Hadji Ibrahima Boly Diene, in Mogadishu.

One of the key priorities for both the AU and the Somali government is securing funding for the new AUSSOM mission, which replaces the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and is tasked with supporting Somalia’s long-term security and stabilization objectives.

Tuesday July 29, 2025 {HMC} Ambassador Mouktar Osman Karie has officially assumed the post of Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Deputy Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as the country transitions toward Somali-led security and governance.

AUSSOM, which succeeded AMISOM and ATMIS, now plays a central role in supporting stabilization, rebuilding national institutions, and coordinating international assistance.

Upon arrival in Mogadishu this week, Karie was welcomed by top Somali officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Ishaq Mahmoud Mursal, State Minister for Defence Omar Ali Abdi, and State Minister for Internal Security Mohamed Ali Hagaa. Senior AUSSOM representatives were also present.

“Ambassador Karie’s wealth of experience enhances the African Union’s capacity to advance peace, security, and institution-building efforts in Somalia,” an AU spokesperson said. “His leadership will be crucial in reinforcing Somali ownership of stabilization while coordinating multilateral support for lasting peace.”

With over two decades of experience in African diplomacy, Karie most recently served as the AU Commission’s Regional Desk Coordinator for West Africa, where he oversaw political transitions and engaged with regional blocs on security and governance. He helped guide AU responses to crises in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, emphasizing consensus-building and preventive diplomacy.

Karie also held senior roles in the AU’s Peace and Security Department, contributing to key regional frameworks such as the Djibouti and Nouakchott Processes. These initiatives promote cross-border counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence-sharing across the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

In addition, he supported the operationalization of the East Africa Fusion and Liaison Unit (EAFLU), a regional hub for early warning and joint security coordination.

Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Karie is well-positioned to engage with Somali institutions, neighbouring states, and international partners.

His appointment follows an accelerated drawdown of foreign troops and growing responsibility for Somali national forces. As the AU advances its post-ATMIS transition strategy, Karie is expected to play a central role in aligning AUSSOM’s work with Somalia’s development goals, including constitutional reform, elections, and decentralization.

Source Hiiraan onnline

Tuesday July 29, 2025 {HMC} Kuwait has urged the international community to coordinate efforts in support of Somalia’s rebuilding and reconciliation process, calling the East African nation’s recovery a critical test of global commitment to stability in the Horn of Africa.

Speaking Monday at a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Somalia in Doha, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Yousef Al-Tunayan, said member states must demonstrate their willingness to act on the principles upon which the bloc was founded.

“Somalia’s situation represents a real test of whether we can transform words into action,” he said, underscoring Kuwait’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity.

Al-Tunayan welcomed recent milestones by the Somali government, including its election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2025–2026. He also praised Somalia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public institutions, improve security, and establish the rule of law—despite ongoing economic and climate-related challenges.

The Kuwaiti envoy commended the World Bank’s decision to grant debt relief to Somalia, describing it as a key step toward economic stability and development. He said the relief could help expand basic services and create new growth opportunities.

Kuwait, he noted, has continued to provide humanitarian and development assistance to Somalia through official government channels and charitable organizations. These efforts have focused on essential sectors such as education, health, clean water, food security, and youth empowerment.

Al-Tunayan concluded by emphasizing that sustainable development is the foundation of lasting peace and reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to partnering with Somalia on its path to recovery.

The OIC Contact Group meeting in Doha comes as Somalia intensifies its engagement with international partners to support its constitutional reform agenda, stabilization efforts, and long-term governance.

Source Hiiraan onnline