Somali militants raided two United Nations compounds on Monday, stealing equipment and vehicles and forcing the world body to close down one of its operations in Somalia. Militiamen looted U.N. facilities in the towns of Baidoa and Wajid, U.N. spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York, adding that the U.N. Office in Somalia “deeply regrets having to relocate staff and temporarily suspend its operations in Baidoa.” Okabe said that the U.N. will continue working in Wajid, where the minimum security measures remain intact, and it is optimistic that a reassessment of safety conditions on the ground will allow critical humanitarian work to resume in Baidoa and elsewhere in Somalia. The looting occurred as the top U.N. envoy to Somalia warned that extremist rebel groups are threatening to overthrow its legitimately recognized government, while calling on the international community to intervene.
