Upcoming Elections ‘Historic Opportunity’ for More Representative Governance in Somalia, Security Council Stresses, Urging Respect for Revised Timetable

Welcoming the continued political and security progress in Somalia, the Security Council today underscored the need to maintain the momentum towards democratic governance with an inclusive, transparent and credible national electoral process this year as a stepping stone to universal suffrage elections in 2020.

In a presidential statement (document S/PRST/2016/13) read out by Council President Ramlam Bin Ibrahim (Malaysia), the 15-member body welcomed the recent meeting of Somalia’s National Leadership Forum on the implementation of the 2016 electoral Process.

The Council noted the Forum’s consensus decision to extend the timeline for the parliamentary and presidential electoral processes until 25 and 30 October respectively so that technical modalities to ensure an inclusive process could be implemented.  Further, Council members noted the Forum’s consensual decision to extend the current mandates of the federal institutions to respect the revised timeline.

Expressing regret for the delay in the original electoral timeline, the Council called on all Somali stakeholders to work constructively to implement the revised calendar without further delay.

Noting that the electoral process was an historic opportunity to deliver more representative governance to the people of Somalia, the Council welcomed the decision of the Forum on representation of minority clans and the Banadiri community.  In that context, Council members also recalled the federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to reserve 30 per cent of seats in the Upper and Lower Houses for women.

The Council urged the federal Government of Somalia to ensure that the electoral process would be conducted in a transparent and credible manner; in a climate of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression and association.

The Security Council also emphasised the importance of adhering to the political road map with a view towards reaching one-person, one-vote elections by 2020.

The meeting began at 10:23 a.m. and ended at 10:28 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2016/13 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the recent meeting of Somalia’s National Leadership Forum (NLF) on the implementation of the 2016 National Electoral Process.

“The Security Council welcomes the continued political and security progress in Somalia since 2012, and underscores the need to maintain the momentum towards democratic governance, with an inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process in 2016 as a stepping stone to universal suffrage elections in 2020.

“In this regard, the Security Council notes the consensus decision of the NLF, based on the recommendation of the Somalia’s Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT), to extend the timeline for the parliamentary electoral process until 25 October 2016, and the timeline for the presidential electoral process until 30 October 2016, to allow for the implementation of the technical modalities for an inclusive process.  The Security Council notes the NLF’s consensual decision to extend the current mandates of the federal institutions to respect this revised timeline.

“The Security Council regrets the delay to the original timeline, and calls on all Somali stakeholders to work constructively to implement the revised calendar without further delay.

“The Security Council notes that this electoral process is an historic opportunity to deliver more representative governance to the people of Somalia and to reflect Somalia’s diversity.  In this regard, the Security Council welcomes the decision of the NLF on representation of minority clans and the Banadiri community.

“The Security Council recalls the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to reserve 30 per cent of seats in the Upper and Lower Houses for women.  The Security Council welcomes the further provisions in the NLF communiqué of 9 August 2016 urging all parties to take the necessary steps to ensure the implementation of these commitments.  The Security Council urges the federal Government of Somalia to ensure that the electoral process is conducted in a transparent and credible manner, in a climate of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association.  In this regard, the Security Council commends the establishment of an Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanism.  The Security Council emphasises the importance of ensuring the Mechanism is independent and implemented without delay.

“The Security Council also emphasises the importance of adhering to the political road map between now and 2020, in particular in order to reach one-person, one-vote elections by 2020.  To that end, the Council notes the NLF’s commitment to promote the establishment and registration of political parties within two years, starting from the date when the tenth Parliament is elected, ahead of elections in 2020.

“The Security Council recognizes that the coming months will be a challenging period for Somalia, it will continue to follow the implementation of elections closely, and underlines its support for peace, stability and development in Somalia.”