A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia has strongly responded to the International Community statement regarding the extension of the Parliament term.
The statement from the ministry said that the international community is interfering in the laws passed by the parliament and that the Somali government has made efforts to uphold the September 17 agreement.
The lengthy statement from the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia has the power to enact special laws defining rules for elections at the federal level, and that statements from the international community only serves to encourage terrorist organizations and Anti-Peace.
“The Federal Government of Somalia is deeply saddened to see the public statements made by some of its international partners and long-time friends in interfering the laws issued by government institutions to protect the democratic rights of the people they elect, their leadership.
The Somali people yearned for an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and exercise their voting power to elect their leaders,” Reads the Somali Foreign Ministry statement in part.
“As they have all witnessed over the past nine months, two of the seven signatories to the September 17, 2020 agreement, the leaders of the Jubbaland and Puntland administrations, acting under intense pressure from foreign influence, tried to halt and hijack the process by creating endless demands and calling for the destruction of national institutions. The dangers of losing progress so far have prompted the House of the People of the Federal Parliament to debate and vote on April 12, 2021 to protect the country’s institutions. The decision was widely supported by key political stakeholders, including the Federal Government, the Benadir Regional Administration and three of the five Federal Member States, namely Hirshabele, Galmudug and Southwest regional states,” the statement said further.
Pursuant to Article 47 of the Provisional Constitution of Somalia, the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia has the power to enact specific laws defining the rules applicable to elections at the federal level.
“Therefore, a law passed by the House of the People of the Federal Parliament on April 12, 2021 stipulating a one-person, one-vote election in the country would overturn any plans already reached, including the September 17 agreement 2020. Basically, this law gives the country the opportunity to implement one of the options proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (NIEC), which has already developed several options that can be implemented, including a roadmap complete the elections within 13 months”
The statement further adds, “While we acknowledge the concerns of our friends and international partners for the stability and security of Somalia, it is unfortunate to witness a campaign for democratic principles that is slow to support the aspirations of the Somali people to exercise their democratic rights. The inflammatory rhetoric, which undermines the political independence and sovereignty of national institutions, will only serve to encourage terrorist and anti-peace organizations in Somalia”
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
