Somalia (Hansard, 29 April 1993)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the recent conference held in Addis Ababa to discuss the future of Somalia; and if he will make available a full account of the proceedings of the conference.
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§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The conference held in Addis Ababa on 15 to 27 March resulted in an agreement among the main Somali factions on the formation of a transitional Government. The factions also affirmed earlier agreements on a ceasefire and disarmament. We have not seen a full record of the proceedings, but I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the text of the 27 March agreement signed by 15 faction representatives.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the systematic abuse of women in Somalia.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
We have no information on any systematic abuse of women in Somalia. We received reports of the stoning to death of five women in Hargeisa, northern Somalia in January. My right hon. and noble friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, during a visit to Hargeisa on 7 February 1993, raised the issue with the authorities there, and was assured that action was being taken to arrest those responsible.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made to Somalia in the last 12 months by representatives of the British Government; and if he will list the parts of Somalia visited.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 14 December 1992 at column 22. Since then, an FCO official visited Mogadishu, 16–17 January; an FCO official and an ODA official visited Mogadishu and Baidoa, 29–30 Janaury; my right hon. and noble friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey visited Baidoa, Mogadishu and Hargeisa, 6–7 February; the British ambassador to Addis Ababa visited Hargeisa, 6–7 February; an FCO official and a member of the British high commission, Nairobi visited Mogadishu, Belet Huen and Baidoa, 2–4 March; and a member of the British high commission, Nairobi visited Mogadishu, 17–18 April.