Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will issue a response to EDM 858, Violence in Galkayo, Somalia.

James Duddridge

On 2 December, Puntland President Gaas and Galmudug President Guled signed a peace agreement, which resulted in a cessation of hostilities and establishment of a joint committee to facilitate reconciliation. We welcome the mediation efforts of Prime Minister Sharmarke and other Somali leaders. The international community also played an active role in pressing for an agreement: the UN issued a joint statement and ensured leaders were able to travel for the negotiations, and the UK was in contact with Somali leaders directly. Throughout we made clear that this conflict is extremely damaging not only to the people of Galkayo but more widely to the fight against Al Shabaab and to Somalia’s reputation.