The Arab League expressed anxiety on Thursday over the ongoing violence in Somalia and urged the warring sides to immediately end hostilities, saying it was prepared to help restore calm in the country.
“The Arab League expresses deep anxiety and regret over the deaths and injuries of a number of Somali citizens as a result of the armed confrontations,” the pan-Arab body said.
“It calls on the warring sides to immediately stop all the violence and fighting that has torn Somalia,” added the statement from the organisation, of which Somalia is a member.
Nearly 350 people have been killed and more than 1 500 wounded, most of them civilians, since fighting erupted between rival militia groups in February.
The Arab League called on “all Somalis to enter into serious dialogue with the government”, saying they should help the government bring stability and security, and “to rebuild state institutions and begin the process of development”.
The Horn of Africa nation was plunged into anarchy with the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre. — AFP