Boutros Boutros-Ghali credited to have taken a very early lead in persistently drawing world attention to Somali tragedy

Abstract

In response of Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s leadership during the Somali crisis, Ismat Kittani, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, challenges the criticisms outlined in Thomas Lippman’s article "UN Chief Faulted in Somalia Mess." Kittani emphasizes Boutros-Ghali’s early and persistent efforts to draw attention to Somalia’s dire humanitarian situation, leading to the formation of UNITAF under U.S. command to address the challenges of security and aid distribution. Kittani recounts the chaotic conditions he faced in Somalia in 1992, where UN operations were crippled, humanitarian aid blocked, and political reconciliation stalled. He credits Boutros-Ghali for pushing the Security Council to take significant action, which alleviated the famine and sparked crucial political discussions in 1993. However, Kittani acknowledges that UNITAF’s failure to disarm warring factions prevented long-term stability. In refuting accusations of mismanagement or bias, Kittani upholds the UN’s neutrality and praises Boutros-Ghali for his unwavering support to the mission.