US urges Somali factions to finish transition
Burundian peacekeepers from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) patrol the streets of Dherkeynley district in Mogadishu January 21, 2009. Displaced Somalis trickled back to their bullet-scarred homes in Mogadishu on Wednesday, despite attacks by Islamist insurgents on police stations in the capital that killed about 20 people. PHOTO/ REUTERS
What you need to know:
- Embassy says it is ready to help the country’s MPs to meet the deadline
Just two days after the United States President Barack Obama was sworn in, the US is urging the stakeholders in the Somali government to continue the cooperation aimed at completing the transition within the appointed time frame.
A statement from the US Embassy says that the US is committed to supporting the Somali Parliament to complete the presidential succession process within the thirty-day period as outlined in the Transitional Federal Charter.
Somali Transitional Federal Government First Deputy Speaker Mohammed Omar and Member of Parliament Ahmed Ashare, who is also the Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Information, Culture, Public Awareness and Heritage, welcomed the commitment saying it would go a long way in supporting the transitional government meet the set deadline.
Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991 sparking a wave of inter clan wars.
The two leaders lauded US President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech, especially where he condemned graft.
Said Mr Omar: “The commitment solidifies the forward progressive way which will enhance the establishment of multiparty system and fair elections slated for September”.
Speaking to the Nation in Nairobi, Mr Ashare said that the message from the US was an indication that the Obama presidency would promote democracy.
“It also shows that the new US president is interested in seeing Somalia embrace democracy and it also acts as a catalyst for stability in our country,” said Mr Ashare.
New president
“Since President Yusuf’s resignation last year, we have consistently advocated a peaceful and transparent election of a new president while respecting the progress made in the Djibouti process,” said the statement from the US Embassy.
Late last year, Mr Adan Muhammad Nur became acting president after Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed stepped down from the presidency.
The constitution requires that the speaker of parliament takes the post of the president in an acting position until elections are held.
