UN official stresses serious human rights challenges in Somalia

A UN official condemned Wednesday the numerous abuses committed by Al-Qaida linked group Al Shabaab, and said that Somalia still faces a series of serious human rights challenges.

The UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, Ivan Simonovic, made the statement as he was concluding a five-day visit to Somalia, calling on the Horn of African country's international partners to increase their support to the Federal Government in its efforts to advance human rights, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here at a daily news briefing.

Simonovic called on the government and all security forces operating in Somalia, including the Somali National Army, African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and other foreign forces to take effective measures to prevent and address violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, the spokesman said.

"He stressed that overcoming terrorism cannot solely be achieved through military means, adding that there is a need to address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, corruption, lack of good governance, unemployment, social exclusion and marginalization," the spokesman said.

The Al-Qaida linked group Al-Shabaab, which is battling to topple the Somali federal government, has lost many strongholds in southern and central Somalia. But the group is still able to launch attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries. Endit