UN chief: Somalia making progress but must tackle extremism

Somalia is making progress toward building a functioning state but must still tackle violent extremism, terrorism, armed conflict, political instability and corruption, the U.N. chief said in a new report.

Antonio Guterres said in the report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Monday that these challenges "demonstrate the fragility of the gains made so far" and "threaten progress."
In addition to security threats, Guterres said large segments of the Somali population face poverty and a lack of food. He said the World Bank estimates in a forthcoming poverty and vulnerability assessment that 77% of Somalia's population is living below "the international extreme poverty line of USD 1.90 per day."
"Poverty is especially deep and widespread in rural areas and in internally displaced persons settlements," Guterres said. "Almost 90 per cent of households lack access to basic services, such as education and water and sanitation."