Top UN envoy declared ‘unwanted’ in Somalia

Somalia’s government has ordered the United Nations envoy to the country to leave with immediate effect.

Nicholas Hayson who arrived in the country as envoy a few months ago was declared unwanted over alleged meddling into Somalia’s affairs.

A statement from the Foreign Affairs ministry released on Tuesday said Hayson had violated the country’s sovereignty before being declared “persona non grata”

"The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Haysom, is no longer welcome in Somalia and cannot operate in the country," the statement released on Tuesday said.

Last month, Ethiopian troops under AMISOM arrested former Al Shabaab commander Mukhtar Robow who was set to stand for presidency in the South West state of the country triggering violence that led to death over 10 people were killed and many other injured when his supporters clashed with government forces.

Following Robow’s arrest, the UN envoy questioned the circumstances under which it had been carried out.

The move to expel Hayson seems to have stemmed from the manner he questioned Robow’s arrest and subsequent blockade from participating in the elections.

The expulsion also stems from the manner in which he asked the Somali government give a legal basis for the arrest of the former Al Shabaab commander.