Moving forward requires pragmatism, says EU Somalia envoy [Interview]

NAIROBI/MOGADISHU-In May 2012, Ambassador Michele Cervone D’Urso was appointed as the European Union Special Envoy for Somalia in a step to more robust EU role in the East African country. 

Somalia is now faced with yet another crucial electoral transition that marks the second for Ambassador Cervone D’Urso who witnessed 2012’s. Somalia at the time held first indirect vote on its own in over two decades in Mogadishu.   

On June 25, Somali political leaders agreed to an election timetable, with clout of politicians being discarded over Electoral Implementation Teams (EITs) at federal and regional levels.  Flaunted as “critical”, August selection process is a two-level structure consisting of a Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) and a State-Level Electoral Implementation Teams (SEITs). Meanwhile in Garowe, Puntland is seeking to democratize its politics and develop an action plan for 2019 elections; Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) has proposed some changes to Local Council Elections and Political Associations Acts for parliamentary approval.  

A council of 135 elders who will select the Electoral Colleges is a base for the process, and concerns had already surfaced regarding the vulnerability of electoral process to manipulation. Garowe Online has conducted an interview with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervone D’Urso.   

Garowe Online: Let's begin with the electoral process for August. Somalia is preparing for a critical transition and you have been one of the key Somalia diplomats pushing for more credible vote. Will elections be transparent?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: This is what the Somali people and we are demanding from the authorities. At the moment the rules of the game are not yet clear. The interim election management bodies are yet to be operationalised. There should be no interference by politicians with the work of these bodies. We will watch this closely. But there is still an important task ahead to put in place transparency and accountability mechanisms. It is possible, but it will require strong commitment from all stakeholders and in all this it will be important to adhere to a credible timeline for the elections. Security arrangements must also urgently be put in place. We also need to see real commitment on the 30% quota for women and not mere rhetoric on more than 50% of the Somali population.

Garowe Online: What mechanism has the IC put in place to keep possible conflict of interest in check?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: It is not up to the International community to put in place such mechanisms, but this is for the Somali authorities to do so. It is important that the NLF has decided to remove politicians from the FIEIT (the Federal Indirect Election Implementation Team). This is critical and a clear distinction between political and electoral management roles. A system whereby candidates are also judges would be problematic. But more needs to be done: the NLF should establish a Dispute Resolution Mechanism and we also foresee a role for civil society and media too.

Garowe Online: To be at a diplomatic helm for four years is enough for a diplomat to grasp a lot of what has been a turbulent political landscape; is Somalia really recovering? 

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: I have had the privilege to follow Somalia for many years now. And it is important to take a longer term perspective. When you do, it is not difficult to see progress. The challenges Somalia faces remain formidable, be it political, in the security sphere and on the socio-economic side. But the positive changes are many: we are starting to see the contours of a new, federal Somalia emerge. This is a major political step forward. AMISOM and Somali security forces have recovered many of the areas previously under Al Shabaab control. State authority is starting to be extended in these areas – though we need to do much more there for the gains to be sustained. Donors – with the EU in the front row – are investing again in Somalia and though the institutions are still fragile, there is increasing Somali ownership and leadership. We are now active and supporting peace and governance dividends in areas that had been untouched by state authority for decades. The fact that the International Financial Institutions are reengaging with Somalia is a very positive sign. Perhaps most importantly, I feel that, something fundamental has changed in the way politics is being conducted: politics now takes place through dialogue and within a constitutional framework – despite its many imperfections. For Somalia to move forward this will be critical: build institutions, strong institutions, and work within the rule of law. Justice has been the biggest grievance for the Somali people and has yet to be fully addressed.

Garowe Online: There had been deadlocks on common position on the model Somalia should adopt for the 2016 transition. Political disputes have been spawning between the national government in Mogadishu and the regional states over how Somalia can select MPs for the 275-seat chamber, given all these political hurdles, what is your view of what is happening among Somalia political leaders? 

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: Though these discussions may appear problematic, in essence what it happening is positive: the political leaders are working in a consensual manner; seeking compromise. The political context is hugely complex in Somalia and moving forward requires a degree of pragmatism and willingness to compromise, while remaining committed to key principles. Eventually, we need to have strong institutions, that should facilitate decision-making in the future, but political deal-making and compromise will always remain necessary. I also hope that in the future, the Somali people will have a much greater say in political decision-making.

Garowe Online: International community has a full leverage. Can we say, it was too tardy for you to pressure disputing leaders into Garowe compromise in April?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: Ideally the preparations for elections should have started much earlier– this would have been helpful in advancing in timely fashion with the roadmap, not only towards 2020 but also towards a timely and credible electoral process in 2016. But as international community we can and should not be in the lead – we can only be there to support processes and to help reach decisions. We all have a responsibility to make sure that Somalia keeps moving forward and we are ready to facilitate inter Somali decision-making when needed, but Somalis are and should be in the lead.

Garowe Online: Can 2016 electoral model hold though August?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: I am confident it can, but it will require sustained commitment by the political leaders and an urgent handing over of tasks to the FIEIT and SIEITs who have to implement the elections. There is a lot of work to be done to put in place the remaining elements – establish the dispute resolution mechanism,  the adoption of criteria for candidates, a decision on the mechanism to ensure women representation, security arrangements… just to name a few - and to detail the timelines and make sure that everyone adheres to them.

Garowe Online: On a different front, Somalia's Federal Government and Somaliland have been locked in a protracted dialogue. Neither side seems committed to immediate outcome as far as Somaliland's bid for independence remains thorny. Is amicable solution in sight?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: We are now entering in election mode. Managing highly sensitive files like the Somaliland issue, is difficult under these circumstances and more time will be needed. But I am confident that there are sufficient elements and entry points that will allow for a constructive continuation of the dialogue.

Garowe Online: At last, Puntland is in a fresh campaign to move away from the clan-based political system. Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) was given a mandate despite so many preparations that have yet to be met. Besides EU is an indispensable partner in the democratization programme, how confident are you in a full democratic process in Puntlandby 2019?

Ambassador Cervone D’Urso: The EU has been supporting the Puntland democratisationprocess for many years and has been by Puntland's side since its establishment in 1998. It was a pity the 2013 local elections did not materialise. The people of Puntland and Somalia crave for democracy. We need to take into account the lessons learnt. There remain many challenges to be addressed and we need to work much harder on local and lower-tier democratisation processes for democracy to be really meaningful for the people of Somalia. This should feature high in the roadmap for 2020 and is not just an issue that concerns Puntland.  The establishment of TPEC is a welcome step towards building democracy from the grass root; sustained political commitment however will be a critical part of this process to allow TPEC to fulfil its mandate and anchor its work into a broader democratic agenda for Puntland.

I will continue to remain engaged over the coming key months in supporting the electoral process as well as an increasingly comprehensive EU security engagement in Somalia.  I will have to pave the way for my successor as we enter a new political dispensation.  It has been for me a real privilege to have witnessed the beginning of what I consider the transformation of Somalia and the most rewarding part has been working with and supporting Somalis from all walks of life from Ras Kamboni to Bari and striving, as EU, to make a small contribution to changing their lives. The saddest part has been the loss of several Somali friends that have made huge sacrifices for the rebuilding of the country. We now have a unique opportunity and we should not let them down.

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