A statement from the international community in Somalia issued spoke about the election, security, and economy in the country.
Read the full text below.
Somalia and international partners met in Mogadishu on 7 December 2020 for the Somalia Cooperation Council (SPF) meeting.
Participants reviewed the progress made since the last SPF, the impact of Covid-19 and the public election agreement. International partners have seen Somalia’s achievements and the ongoing progress in implementing security sector reforms, reclaiming al-Shabaab territory, and reviewing Somalia’s transition plans.
They welcomed the recommendation of the Security and Justice Committee meeting and are committed to holding it every three months, after more than two years of absence, as well as minimizing the impact of COVID-19, holding meetings between FGS and Somaliland representatives, and progress toward debt forgiveness.
However, significant challenges remain and Significant progress is needed to strengthen the practice of democracy and safeguard the progress made in the Constitutional Review.
It is disappointing that Somalia has not achieved its goal of holding elections in four years.
However, the National Consultative Assembly has reached a political agreement on holding an indirect election during the 2020/2021 elections and is committed to holding one-person, one-vote elections in 2024/2025.
Somalia is committed to making progres through inclusive dialogue, through the one-man, one-vote (OPOV) federal elections in 2024/25, with standards and accountability mechanisms that reflect meaningful progress.
with, especially direct elections at the district and regional levels, as well as the establishment of a Constitutional Court early and the strengthening of the National Independent Electoral Commission.
It is now imperative to ensure that timely and credible elections are held in order to preserve the Somali tradition of handing over power or maintaining power.
Non-controversial issues need to be enforced and the rule of law and stability maintained.
International partners continue to support Somalia in fulfilling these commitments, and to assist in the implementation of the 2020/2021 Indirect Election Process reached by consensus, in a peaceful, timely manner provided technical assistance to ensure a 30% quota for women in parliament and an electoral management structure.
The international community welcomes the agreement reached by Somali leaders on electoral issues and urges them to implement and avoid any obstacles to the holding of elections.
In January 2021 the next, there will be a looga addressing issues such as military mission and Al Jazeera, In view of the forthcoming elections, Somalia and the international community have agreed on a Mutual Accountability Framework for 2021, including priority outcomes to be completed by the end of the current administration.
It is important to maintain accountability and consensus, They also discussed economic issues, saying that progress had been made and much needed to be done, including an economic conference scheduled for March.
