UN expert says troops' drawback in Somalia should consider security

MOGADISHU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A UN human rights expert has promised to continue urging the international community for the need to ensure that any drawdown of African Union forces in Somalia should be based on realistic timelines and security conditions.

Bahame Tom Nyanduga, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC)'s Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, stressed that the Africa Union troops are playing critical role for peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

Nyandega said in a statement issued on Wednesday by the AU mission that human rights in Somalia depend on the existence of a stable state and the strengthening of law and order, hence the critical role played by AMISOM.

He lauded AMISOM for strengthening its human right component following the recruitment of a number of protection officers, in particular for women and children protection.

During his visit to Somalia, Nyanduga met with AMISOM officials as part of on-going consultations with human rights stakeholders in Somalia in his fifth mission to the country. Enditem