Somalia: UN, international partners call for resolution of country's political crisis
The United Nations and its international partners today voiced
concern over delays in the resolution of Somalia’s long-standing
political crisis and in the implementation of a stability-building
mechanism as they called on the Horn of Africa nation’s President, Prime
Minister and Federal Parliament ‘to unite for the greater good of the
country.’
In a joint statement
issued by the UN, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),
European Union, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the United
States and United Kingdom, the partners urged the country to ‘move
swiftly’ towards the implementation of ‘Vision 2006’ through a new
Cabinet endorsed by Parliament, warning that further delays ‘could
jeopardize the progress Somalia has made towards building peace and
security.’
“September 2016 remains the constitutional deadline for conducting free
and fair elections,” they declared. “All Somali institutions must focus
on building consensus and act in the national interest.”
The statement comes as Somalia struggles to emerge from a political
crisis ignited when a recent parliamentary vote of ‘no confidence’
resulted in the political ouster of Somalia’s former Prime Minister.
The Somali Parliament dismissed Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on 6
December due to reported disputes between Mr. Ahmed and Somali
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over political appointments. Since then,
the Parliament has confirmed Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as the
country’s new Prime Minister but political uncertainty still remains.
In addition, the country has been plagued by political infighting and
bursts of extremist violence as the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab,
continues to wage an insurgency. Just last month, in the city of Baidoa,
a terrorist attack left at least 15 people dead with many more wounded.
Against that backdrop, Raisedon Zenenga, the UN’s newly appointed Deputy Special Representative arrived today in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, to assume his duties with UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
“I am very pleased to have this opportunity to return to Somalia and
support the aspirations of the people of Somalia for a peaceful, stable
and prosperous future,” Mr. Zenenga said in a press release, adding that
over the coming days he looked forward to meeting with officials from
the Government as well as AMISOM and IGAD.
As part of UNSOM’s mandate, Mr. Zenenga will work in support of
Somalia’s political priorities, human rights, rule of law and security
institutions.
“The challenges are tremendous,” he concluded, “but we must work
together to push forward the progress that the Somali people want to
see.”
Source: un.org
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