International partners express concerns over political delays in Somalia Mogadishu, 22 January 2015 –The United Nations, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), African Union Mission in Somalia, the United States and United Kingdom have expressed concerns over delays in the implementation of Vision 2016 due to the prolonged political crisis. At a meeting on 21 January with HE President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and HE Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, they urged Somalia’s leadership and its political institutions to ensure the appointment of a Cabinet that receives the consent of the Federal Parliament without any further delays. “We call on the President, Prime Minister and the Federal Parliament to unite for the greater good of the country and to move swiftly towards the implementation of Vision 2016 through a new Cabinet endorsed by Parliament. Further delays could jeopardise the progress Somalia has made towards building peace and security. September 2016 remains the constitutional deadline for conducting free and fair elections. All Somali institutions must focus on building consensus and act in the national interest.” End.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:07:53 +0000