The United Nations Special Representative to Somalia and Head of UNSOM Mr. James Swan paid his first visit to the Republic of Somaliland since United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed him to the post on May 30th 2019.

A busy day in #Hargeisa for @UN envoy James Swan, on his first trip to #Somaliland since taking up his post – a visit to a @UNHCRSom-backed livelihoods project and the @UNDPSomalia-backed Civil Service Institute, and meeting #women leaders to hear about progress and challenges. pic.twitter.com/yZjKeMpkfa — UNSOM (@UNSomalia) July 27, 2019

Mr. Swan is scheduled to meet with the President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi, the chairmen of Somaliland political parties as well as the Somaliland House of Elders and House Representatives, civil groups, NGOs and business organisations.





On July 24, Mr. Swan was the target of the latest Alshabaab suicide bombing in Municipal building in Mogadishu. The attack claimed the lives of several District Commissioners and other high ranking local council members while gravely wounding Mogadishu Mayor Mr. Abdirahmaan Omar Osman Eng Yariisow .

The Mayor of Mogadishu Mr. Yariisow and other wounded in the attack were evacuated to Qatar for treatment medical treatment.

James Swan, an American diplomat who is the United Nations’ special representative for Somalia, had visited the mayor’s office earlier Wednesday but left before the attack https://t.co/DBqzLo5GQH — New York Times World (@nytimesworld) July 24, 2019

“The UN Special Envoy James Swan, an American, survived an assassination attempt and many government officials were killed and wounded, including Mogadishu’s mayor, after targeting them in an explosion,” said a statement attributed to the Alshabaab terror network.

Nicholas Haysom former head of UNSOM and Special Representative to Somalia with President Muse Bihi Abdi on November 2018

Mr. Swan is a seasoned former US diplomat who has held many positions at the Department of State. He has succeeded Mr. Nicholas Haysom who has been granted a PNG status by Somalia’s Federal Government on January this year.