Mogadishu, 9 June 2024 – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the United Nations (UN), and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) have pledged to promote sustainable environmental conservation to combat climate change in Somalia.
This commitment was made by AU Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Raisedon Zenenga, UNSOS Director of Mission Support Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai and FGS representative Abdirahim Barre Mohamed during an event commemorating World Environment Day in Mogadishu.
In his keynote address, Mr. Bam emphasized the importance of protecting the environment in Somalia as ATMIS draws down.
“We recognize that it matters a lot that as we handover key locations to the Federal Government of Somalia and drawdown, we must continue to initiate environmental restoration efforts in our Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and communities,” he said.
Last year, ATMIS pledged to plant 30,000 trees at 58 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) by the end of 2024 in support of President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud’s “Regreening Somalia” initiative, which aims to plant 10 million trees to enhance the country’s climate resilience and combat droughts.
Mr. Mohamed, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change official, emphasized the government’s dedication to safeguarding natural resources and promoting climate resilience.
“Climate change, deforestation, and pollution are pressing issues that threaten our environment and livelihoods. It is imperative that we take decisive action to address these challenges, not only for ourselves but for the future generations,” he said.
Mr. Zenenga, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia commended Somalia’s commitment to conservation through the African-led Great Green Wall Initiative, which aims to increase arable land in the Sahel.
“The successful community-led initiatives in Somalia, such as participation in the Great Green Wall Initiative to address desertification, climate change, and biodiversity loss are evidence of the commitment to preserving the environment,” he noted.
He reiterated ATMIS and the UN’s commitment to continue supporting Somalia in developing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
As part of the commemoration, UNSOS donated fruit seedlings to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for forest regeneration programmes.
“We mark this occasion by donating fruit tree seedlings to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for planting to contribute to reforestation efforts in Somalia,” said Ms. Sadozai, UNSOS Director of Mission Support.
Also present during the celebrations were acting ATMIS Force Commander Maj. Gen. Marius Ngendabanka, ATMIS Police Commissioner Hillary Sao Kanu, and other senior UN, FGS, and ATMIS officials.
The event included a beach clean-up, tree planting and a tour of a wastewater management plant in Mogadishu.
Similar events were organised by ATMIS and the UN in Jowhar (Hirshabelle State) and Baidoa (South West State).
Designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, World Environment Day is celebrated every 5th June to raise awareness about the environment and inspire solutions to pressing challenges. This year’s celebration focuses on the theme, ‘land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience’.
