Mogadishu, QN - The United Kingdom has changed its ambassador to Somalia Matt Baugh and nominated Neil Wigan to replace him a time Britain is taking the lead of international efforts to help Somalia get a functioning government.
Desmond Patrick Neil Wigan, better known as Mr. Wigan, will take up his appointment during June 2013, is the current UK ambassador to Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and he will be the non resident UK ambassador to Mogadishu for the coming years.
Mr Wigan is high profile diplomat, who joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2000, has worked on several countries afflicted by conflict, most recently as UK Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the last three years.
On his appointment as UK Ambassador to Somalia, Mr Wigan has said, "I am delighted and proud to be appointed at this critical moment in Somalia’s history. Somalia has made great political and security progress in recent years, with Al Shabab driven from many major cities, and with a new and legitimate government having taken office."
"The UK has played a major role in supporting this progress, many challenges remain, and I look forward to working on them. I also look forward to working in the new British Embassy in Mogadishu, re-opened in April 2013 after being closed for 22 years." He added.
Ambassador Wigan is coming to Mogadishu a time a veteran British diplomat took over the United Nations' Assistance Mission for Somalia UNSOM.
Nick Kay, the former Director of FCO's Africa department replaced Augustine Philip Mahiga, a diplomat from Tanzania who let the UN political office for Somalia UNPOS for the last 3 years.
The UK's special interrest is not yet clear for the Somalis but the public perception projects UK as a force preventing the Turkish role in Somalia which existed since 2011 after severe famine hit in Southern Somalia.
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UK changes its ambassador to Somalia
Mogadishu, QN - The United Kingdom has changed its ambassador to Somalia Matt Baugh and nominated Neil Wigan to replace him a time Britain is taking the lead of international efforts to help Somalia get a functioning government.