Somali President and UN Secretary General Discuss LasAnod Crisis in Recent Meetings

MOGADISHU, Somalia - During an extended meeting between the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh, and the United Nations Secretary General, a source told Garowe Online that the issue of LasAnod took up 20 minutes of their discussion time.

The source close to the meeting revealed that President Hassan Sheikh focused on the ongoing conflict in LasAnod, emphasizing the loss of life, displacement, and destruction in the city, particularly the damage to social service centers.

The reports added that President Hassan Sheikh expressed concern over the lack of a solution to the ongoing conflict, which could potentially escalate in LasAnod at any time.

News from LasAnod indicates another potential outbreak of war, as Somaliland's President Muse Bihi has seemingly ignored calls from the international community, especially the United States, to withdraw his forces from LasAnod.

During his stay in Somalia, the UN Secretary General also visited the city of Baidoa, which has been grappling with famine. He addressed the current humanitarian issues in Somalia, including the drought caused by climate change, as well as the security challenges and the need for stabilization in the country.

While the Secretary of the United Nations and the President held a press conference during their meeting in Mogadishu, they did not directly address the situation in LasAnod.

GAROWE ONLINE