Director-General/Executive Director
Your Excellency Mr. Hamza Abi Barre, Prime Minister of Somalia,
Distinguished guests,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.
I am very pleased to be here with you for the first time in Somalia and in Mogadishu, to inaugurate the Mogadishu Prison Court Complex.
The MPCC represents more than just a building.
It is a symbol of Somalia’s ongoing journey towards peace, justice and the rule of law, a journey faced with great obstacles, but also characterized by great determination.
More than ten years ago, the Bandir Court Complex was targeted in a brutal attack.
At least thirty people were killed, many more were injured, and the facility was severely damaged.
It was a heavy blow to the justice sector of Somalia.
But Somalia responded with resilience, and the international community responded with support.
After years of hard work, and an investment of some 18 million dollars, the MPCC stands today as one of the most significant UN infrastructure initiatives in the country.
The MPCC is now a fortress for the administration of justice, anchored in the principles of justice and human dignity, providing a secure environment for the judiciary and a humane setting for prisoners.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is hugely proud to have taken the lead in conceiving, designing, and delivering this monumental project.
We are grateful to the Federal Government of Somalia for our strong partnership.
And we are grateful to the US, the UK, the EU, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands, our donors who generously funded this work.
Excellencies,
As we reflect on the journey of the MPCC's construction, expansion, and development, we see a narrative of collaboration and resilience in the face of setbacks.
This is, in many ways, the story of Somalia that is unfolding today.
Somalia faces daunting challenges, but the Somali people are still standing, still fighting, still taking steps towards a better future.
Somalia has made great progress in recent months, including finalizing a critical security road map, and joining the East African Community.
And the country has taken important steps towards establishing a new constitution and electoral model.
Somalia has also taken positive steps on anti-corruption, ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption and joining the GlobE network of anti-corruption authorities, which UNODC supports.
The Federal Government of Somalia is making great efforts, with tangible results.
Nevertheless, the situation remains difficult.
Geopolitical tensions in the region threaten to derail progress, piracy is resurgent, and terrorism continues to destabilize, all while organized crime groups use the situation to smuggle arms, to exploit Somalia’s fisheries, and to profit from instability.
Meanwhile, almost 7 million people require humanitarian assistance, many of them affected by the disastrous consequences of climate change.
This is a time to stand with Somalia and its people.
The story of Somalia is far from over, and UNODC is committed to playing our part.
We have been working with Somalia since 2009, supporting justice and the rule of law, and our commitment to Somalia’s future is as strong as ever.
In addition to the MPCC, we have carried out many construction and renovation projects for judicial and penal facilities across the country.
We are collaborating with UNSOM and UNDP to help Somalia enhance access to justice and improve rehabilitation and reintegration in prisons.
We are equipping maritime law enforcement with the capacities needed to disrupt trafficking and maritime crime.
We are helping improve border security and strengthen responses to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
And we are assisting Somalia in developing operational capacities to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
To pursue sustainable development, Somalia needs stability and the rule of law.
UNODC stands ready to continue and expand our work with the Federal Government of Somalia.
Together, we can mobilize the needed resources to confront the threats of organized crime and terrorism, build a strong criminal justice infrastructure, and enable Somalian law enforcement to operate effectively on land and at sea, paving the path to peace and prosperity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The MPCC is living proof that hope can rise from the ashes of tragedy.
Today, we write another chapter in Somalia’s story of resilience and hope, for a future where every Somali citizen can live in peace, security, and dignity.
Thank you.