Deputy Secretary-General Hails ‘Milestone’ Electoral Process in Somalia, But Warns It Will Only Work if All Stakeholders Act Responsibly

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the high-level meeting on Somalia, in New York today:

I thank the Governments of Ethiopia, Italy, the United Kingdom and Somalia for organizing this timely meeting.  Your participation demonstrates strong collective support for Somalia and Somalia’s future.  I especially recognize the contribution of the African Union, the Member States contributing troops to AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] and our partners, including the European Union, IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development], Turkey and the Gulf.

The Government and people of Somalia are undertaking the painstaking work of forging a new path forward; a new future for a country torn by conflict, poverty and strains on human rights and rule of law.  They are about to launch the electoral process that will choose a new federal Parliament and President.  Some 14,000 Somalis will participate in selecting Members of Parliament.  I applaud the commitment of Somalia’s leaders to reserve one in three seats in the new Parliament for women.

This electoral process is a milestone.  But, it will work only if all stakeholders act responsibly and coordinate closely.  I urge all parties to avoid further delays, enable a peaceful and credible process and move quickly to accept and implement the result.

Somalia’s new Government will have no time to lose in facing the challenges ahead.  First, it must continue an inclusive political transformation.  Formalizing relations between Somalia’s regions and its centre must be a top priority.  Preparations for the universal, multiparty elections scheduled for 2020 must begin urgently.  Participation of all Somalis in this process is essential.

Security is equally important.  We all recognize the courage of AMISOM.  But, the force cannot, and should not, remain forever.  Developing Somali security structures is absolutely vital.  We must take a more comprehensive approach to security that moves away from dependency.  We must both empower Somali institutions and expect more from them.

Strong support to AMISOM must be coupled with a major push to develop accountable and capable Somali security institutions.  Negotiation on a nationally agreed security framework should receive the same attention currently given to political structures.  This should be accompanied by greater support for the extension of State authority — helping local authorities build an alternative to what Al-Shabaab is offering.  We must prevent and counter violent extremism, including through a political strategy for reconciliation.  All this requires a unified, coherent approach across the international community.  I welcome partners’ engagement and urge you to work collaboratively to achieve substantial progress in 2017.

Somalia’s National Development Plan shows that Somalis are ready to take the initiative.  I look forward to a mutual accountability framework in which we and the new Government agree to take forward key priorities — and act on them.  And with continued progress, I hope we can hold out the prospect of further support, through full access for Somalia to lending from international financial institutions.

Your continued partnership and support is critical.  Let us work together to help make Somalia’s political transformation, security and development a sustainable success, not only for the Somali people but also for Africa and the whole international community.