Ban Ki-Moon expresses concern over situation in Somalia

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon warned that the formation of Somalia’s parliament may never see the light of day due to continued instability and acts of terror rocking the country.                

The Secretary General’s spokesperson at the UN warned that the General Assembly may have to resort to issuing sanctions against any group which may hinder reconciliation efforts in the country.                    

After eight years of infighting, the corruption-riddled government, which is propped up by almost 17,000 African Union troops defending it from Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents, is due to be replaced on August 20 via United Nations-backed elections.                

Bowed down by repeated droughts and riven by over two decades of conflict, Somalia is torn between rival clans, Islamist insurgents and the government.                  
It has been without a stable central government since the overthrow of former president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.