AU urges feuding parties in Somali city to stop fighting

The Africa Union envoy for Somalia on Sunday called for an immediate end to fighting in the southern port city of Kismayo, where clashes have reportedly led to civilian deaths. In a statement issued in Nairobi, Kenya, the AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif noted that though the overall situation in the Horn of African nation continues to evolve positively, the country was faced with serious challenges which require urgent attention of its political, religious and community leaders at all levels. \"The Somali people and leaders must necessarily capitalize on the security gains made by AMISOM, the Somali security forces and their allies, to further peace and prosperity,\" Annadif said in the statement. \"They must seize this opportune moment to bring to an end the political disputes that complicates the process of stabilizing Somalia.\" Unconfirmed reports say clashes that flared in Kismayo Friday reignited Saturday between militia fighters loyal to two rival leaders in the city. A number of rival presidents were declared by various groups for the leadership of a regional state not recognized by the federal government. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has expressed sadness at the fighting in Kismayo. The Horn of Africa nation\'s government is organizing dialogue for rival leaders in the port city of Kismayo over the formation of a regional state for three southern provinces of Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba. Annadif called on the Somali leaders, particularly those in the Jubas and other regions to demonstrate the \"required maturity and goodwill as their country grapples with the challenges of this new page in their history.\" He said AMISOM, working with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other partners, were committed to supporting ongoing efforts towards national reconciliation and unity, as well as the efforts to rebuild the armed forces and integrate the militias. \"I welcome the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) initiatives to engage regional authorities through outreach and dialogue, as informed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) national reconciliation and dialogue process,\" Annadif said. Somalia has been torn asunder by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently made progress towards stability. Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents retreated from Mogadishu in 2011 and new Government institutions emerged last year, as the country ended a transitional phase toward setting up a permanent, democratically-elected government.