Somalia has ordered a top United Nations official in the country to leave.
Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Somalia is being accused of interfering in national matters.
Mr. Haysom last year complained about the arrest of a former Islamist al Shabaab militant, Mukhtar Robow.
Haysom in a letter dated December 30 and sent to the interior security minister expressed concern over “the alleged involvement of UN-supported Somali security forces in the arrest of Mukhtar Robow.”
Robow’s arrest led to violence and the “deaths of 15 civilians…on 13, 14, and 15 December…and the arrest of approximately 300 people involved” in demonstrations in December.
There were clashes between militiamen loyal to Robow and Somali forces due to his arrest.
Mukhtar Robow’s bid to become a regional leader in the country in an election last December was blocked.
The foreign affairs ministry of Somalia said in a statement on Tuesday that Nicholas Haysom, “is not required and cannot work in this country”.
The Somali government has declared him the official persona non grata. “The decision comes after he openly breached the appropriate conduct of the U.N. office in Somalia,” the statement read.
Somalia continues to struggle to defeat militant groups like al-shabab still operating in the country.
Deadly attacks continue to be carried out by the militant group. The U.N is an important body helping Somalia to rebuild after years of deadly militant attacks.
Source: Africafeeds.com
