Somalia: International community urges Parliament to approve 2016 electoral model swiftly

Mogadishu, 14 May 2016 – The United Nations, the African Union Mission in Somalia, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, the United States of America, Sweden and Italy express their deep concern over the protracted process to approve the 2016 electoral model, submitted to the Federal Parliament by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke on 30 April.

International partners urge the swift endorsement of the modalities of the electoral process by Parliament and call on all relevant federal institutions to move towards preparing and implementing the 2016 electoral process.   Ambassadors and special envoys met with Somalia’s executive and parliamentary leaders three days ago to reiterate their previous calls for the swift endorsement of the electoral model. ‎Recalling the agreement reached by Somalia’s federal and regional leaders on 12 April, they noted the importance of moving ahead with the implementation of the electoral process.

They noted that the agreed modalities of the electoral process were the result of months of nationwide consultations, backed by Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Sharmarke, by all‎ the presidents of Somalia’s existing and emerging federal members states, and by Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari‎ and other representatives from Parliament.

Broad consensus was achieved on the key elements of the model, including the establishment of the Upper House of Parliament and the reservation of 30 per cent of seats for women in both houses of parliament.  We urge Parliament to understand the mounting sense of urgency and to fulfill their responsibilities in an appropriate manner. On the eve of a critical visit by the United Nations Security Council, it is imperative that the agreed modalities of the electoral process are approved without further delay.

"Somalia’s political future is on hold until this model is approved,” said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia,  Michael Keating . “It is essential that this happens quickly to allow legitimate transfer of power later this year. Failure to approve this will send a troubling signal both to the world and to the millions of Somalis who want to see progress towards one-person, one-vote elections in 2020.”   The international community underscores its readiness to support the 2016 electoral process.‎  

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