Chinese envoy calls for continuous efforts for Somali peace process

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday called for continuous efforts for peace process in Somalia, noting that the security and humanitarian situations in the country remain fragile.

"The peace process in Somalia has entered a critical phrase with elections to be held this year," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council meeting on Somalia.

China hails the strong leadership of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and believes that Somali people will continue to make progress in national reconstruction, Wu said, adding that there is still a long way for Somalia to achieve peace and development.

"We hope that all parties in Somalia will put national and people's interest first, enhance dialogues to reconcile differences and commit themselves to the realization of peace, stability and development of the country," Wu said.

Earlier this month, the Somali leaders have met and unanimously adopted a joint declaration spelling out the general principles and guidelines for the implementation of the 2016 electoral model they had agreed upon during the January meeting of the National Leadership Forum, Tete Antonio, permanent observer of the African Union (AU) to the UN told the meeting.

Somalia has been trying to rebuild after establishing its first functioning central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and turned on each other, plunging the impoverished nation into chaos.

The Somali National Army backed by the AU Peacekeeping Forces removed Al-Shabaab from the capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group is not yet defeated and often carries out deadly attacks against government and AU headquarters as well as gathering spots such as hotels and restaurants. Endi