Africa Union pledges to work with new Somali leaders

Xinhua
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

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The Africa Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia on Tuesday said it would work with newly elected Horn of Africa nation’s authorities to help bring unity in the country.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra also applauded the people of Somalia on the inauguration of a new parliament, the first to be sworn in on Somali soil in over 20 years.

"We will continue to work with the new authorities selected by the representatives of the Somali people to ensure that ordinary citizens can go about their daily lives in peace and security," Diarra said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Some 215 of the total number of 275 members of Parliament were sworn in on Monday at an inauguration ceremony in the capital, Mogadishu, passing the benchmark of 185 which allows for the new Federal Parliament to convene with a functioning majority.

However, the newly elected Somali lawmakers resolved to delay the election of the new president of the envisaged permanent government for a few days.

The new parliament also includes a number of women lawmakers, following a strong push from the international community and the passing of a provisional constitution that guarantees more political rights for women. Mussa Hassan Abdulle, a former army general was appointed interim Speaker.

The Monday’s inauguration comes three weeks after a National Constituent Assembly overwhelmingly approved the Provisional Constitution.

The document was a key part of the roadmap process, providing a legal framework governing the workings of the new Somali Federal Institutions after Aug. 20.

In his statement issued in Nairobi, Diarra lauded the steps taken so far to end the transition to representative government, terming it historic.

"This is a historic moment. Today Somalia has a new beginning with a new political framework based on a popular and legitimate provisional constitution," he said.

Diarra paid tribute to the Traditional Elders and the Technical Selection Committee for diligently executing their duties in challenging circumstances.

He urged them to complete the important work of appointing and vetting the remaining lawmakers.

He also urged the new Parliament to move expeditiously to elect a Speaker and President.

Diarra reaffirmed the pan African body’s commitment to supporting the country’s peace process saying that AMISOM would enhance security in Mogadishu during this critical period.

A year ago, the Somali National Army with the support of the AMISOM forces pushed the extremist group Al-Shabaab from the city, ushering in the longest period of relative peace the capital has experienced since the collapse of central government in 1991.

Elections in the Horn of Africa nation were last held in the 1980s and during the civilian administration that existed prior to the seizure of power by the Supreme Revolutionary Council led by the late Siad Barre, in 1969, there were a number of local parties, but they were all outlawed thereafter.

Barre was ousted in 1991 following civil war that lead to emergence of autonomous and semi-autonomous regional states which came under the rule of rival militia groups.

Transitional Federal Government was formed in 2004 with a 5- year mandate to establish a new constitutional order with all groups represented.

The mandate was extended in 2009 to Aug. 20 when the mandate of the President, the Speaker and his deputies comes to an end.

At least 24 are contesting Somalia’s first post-transition president who, once elected, next month will then choose the PM.

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