Somalia: Int’l Community calls for ‘swift resolution’ to political crisis

MOGADISHU, Somalia, August 19, 2015 (Garowe Online)-United Nations, African Union Mission to Somalia, IGAD, EU, US and UK have urged federal institutions to cope effective mechanisms and put the political uncertainty to an end on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Following separate meetings with the political leadership, international community representatives expressed deep concern about the bureaucratic limbo created by impeachment motion against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“While we fully respect the right of the Federal Parliament to hold institutions to account and to fullfil its constitutional duties, the submission of any such motion requires a high standard of transparency and integrity in the process and will consume extremely valuable time, not least in the absence of essential legal bodies,” international partners said in a joint press statement.

International diplomats acknowledged that Somalia’s fragile institutions can’t afford further paralyses; stressing that Somalia needs to meet expectations set out in United Nations Security Council.

“They [Federal Institutions] require a period of stability and continuity to allow Somalia to benefit from the New Deal Somali Compact and to prepare for a peaceful and legitimate transfer of public office in 2016,” read the press statement.

Mohamud called on the parliament to fast track the passing of key bills according to a statement from his office.

“The parliament has to fast track the legal process that allows the formation of national justice institutions, like the Justice Services Committee and the Constitutional Court,” he said earlier.

On Tuesday, Garowe Online learned that Mohamud wrote to the parliament to defend himself from constitutional violations and corruption claims in the wake of parliamentary impeachment motion.

On August 12, Parliament speaker received a no confidence motion in the president under the backing over 90 MPs.

Mogadishu-based federal government is unlikely to wean itself off donors.

In late 2013, a confidential report by 8-member panel of UN experts implicated Mohamud and other senior government officials in pervasive corruption. 

GAROWE ONLINE