/unsomalia /unsomalia UNSOM unsom.unmissions.org ISSUE 17 | QUARTERLY Serving the people DECEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER of Somalia HIGHLIGHTS • International partners call for ongo- ing dialogue among Somali leaders • Somalia Partnership Forum takes stock of country’s progress, iden- tifies priorities • UN Special Representative briefs Security Council on the situation in Somalia • Somali government and internation- al partners meet to improve security and rule of law • International partner representatives visit Somalia’s Federal Member States INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS CALL FOR ONGOING • UN Peacebuilding Commission holds DIALOGUE AMONG SOMALI LEADERS first meeting on Somalia since 2015 • As poll preparations begin, Somali journalists undertake training on elections reporting the implementation protocols signed by • Somalia among Horn of Africa In December, Somalia’s the Federal and Federal Member State countries threatened by desert (FMS) leaders on 1 October. Initiating locust upsurge international partners* a parallel process or imposing disputed electoral management committees that do issued a joint statement in not meet the agreed criteria undermines meetings of the leaders will help prevent the legitimacy of the electoral process and which they highlighted how the recurrence of a protracted political creates instability, they added. the recently-concluded impasse. To that end we would urge parties The statement continued as follows: to recall commitments made at the Somalia Somalia Partnership Forum Partnership Forum under the 2021 Mutual “We therefore reiterate our call on the Accountability Framework to a secure Federal and FMS leaders to reconvene had enabled all involved to electoral process based on ongoing dialogue, urgently and to reach out to other and to the establishment of a mechanism openly exchange views on stakeholders to resolve concerns about for dialogue on this process to meet not the management of the electoral process current developments in less than monthly. through consensus-building so that the country. timely, transparent, and credible elections “In the coming weeks, we look forward embraced by the Somali people and all key to working with the Federal Government stakeholders can take place. To that end, and FMSs to advance other key decisions hey added that the Forum allowed all we welcome Prime Minister Mohamed involved to agree on the 2021 Mutual from the Somalia Partnership Forum that T Hussein Roble’s commitment to convene require immediate follow-up. These include Accountability Framework, which sets out the leaders in Mogadishu following his safeguarding the gains from the review key priorities on inclusive politics, security current visits to the Federal Member States. of the Constitution prior to elections, and justice, and social and economic consultations on developing the 2024/25 development. “We stand ready to provide support to the Federal and State electoral committees once elections roadmap, signing the audit bill, However, the partners also stated that they the dialogue to resolve the dispute over finalizing the Somali Transition Plan, remain deeply concerned about the ongoing their composition is successfully concluded. and preparing for the force generation disagreements over the implementation of Transparency and good faith in implementing conference planned for January 2021. the 2020/21 electoral process, and that the electoral process according to the agreed “In the meantime, we call on all stakeholders further discussion and agreement is also rules will also be important. to refrain from any statements or actions needed on how the 30 per cent women’s that could create tensions or incite violence.” quota in committees, amongst delegates, “We also stress that regular meetings of the Federal and FMS leaders throughout and for seats will be assured. *African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Belgium, the electoral process and continuation Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, Germany, The partners said these disagreements need of the Dhusamareb spirit of compromise Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Ireland, to be resolved in a manner that respects Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Organisation of Islamic will help keep the electoral process on Cooperation (OIC), Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, the 17 September political agreement and track. “The institutionalization of such United Kingdom, United States, and the United Nations. UNSOM NEWSLETTER 1 SPOTLIGHT SOMALIA PARTNERSHIP FORUM TAKES STOCK OF COUNTRY'S PROGRESS, IDENTIFIES PRIORITIES Referring to the decision not to proceed elections, and highlighted the need for a with ‘one person, one vote’ elections for the practical roadmap with clear benchmarks The Federal Government of current electoral cycle, the Prime Minister that would lead to ‘one person, one vote’ Somalia and its international said that particular model of voting was an elections in the next electoral cycle. aspiration of all Somalis and he pledged The UN envoy pointed to the consensus partners gathered in early early preparations for them in the next that was reached among the Federal cycle, involving dialogue with Federal Government and the Federal Member December in the capital Member States. States, which led to the agreement on the for a one-day, high-level current indirect elections, as evidence of meeting – the Somalia what could be achieved through consensus- With international building and dialogue among leaders. Partnership Forum (SPF) support, Somalia He also spoke of the need for progress – dedicated to taking stock remains committed with the country’s constitutional review process during the current parliamentary of the progress made by the to implementing sitting in order to avoid delays. country in various areas, as key financial and “We believe it is very important that the progress achieved on the non-contentious well as agree on priorities economic reforms. issues be secured prior to the end of this ahead of it. parliament, so that it is not necessary to “The Federal Government of Somalia has already embarked on a process to draft a ike last year, this year’s SPF was held roadmap for universal suffrage elections to in Mogadishu, and the topics covered L take place in 2024/2025. The process will included the country’s elections, the fight require engagement with a range of key against Al-Shabaab and security transition stakeholders including our Federal Member planned for 2021, economic development States, civil society, political parties, to and more. ensure inclusive and credible elections in Somalia’s elections figured prominently in the future,” the Prime Minister said. the remarks of Somalia’s Prime Minister In his remarks to the SPF, delivered via Mohamed H. Roble, who also chaired the video link, the United Nations Secretary- SPF, which drew representatives from the General’s Special Representative for country’s Federal Member States as well Somalia, James Swan, called for dialogue to as international partners. solve Somalia’s challenges with the current UNSOM NEWSLETTER 2 start over again. This too will require a commitments, such as the continuation of social protection, strengthening the dialogue between federal leadership and the national reconciliation process with the government’s ability to deliver services the Federal Member States. We hope representation of all sections of Somali to the population, addressing the harmful that it can proceed quickly. It will also be society, particularly women. effects of COVID-19 and enhancing important to include women, civil society The international partners also agreed organisations and other groups that have in government legitimacy. to continue supporting the transition the past been excluded. But constitutional involving Somalia taking over lead Furthermore, international partners reform remains a critical priority that we also committed to support Somalia’s would like to see more progress,” the UN responsibility for the country’s security development priorities as outlined in its envoy said. from peacekeeping forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), National Development Plan-9. including the reconfiguration of AMISOM in order to better counter Al-Shabaab and With international accelerate the transition. support, Somalia The communiqué noted that the country remains committed had made significant progress on economic development, notably the historic achieve- to implementing ment of reaching ‘Decision Point’ under the key financial and Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in March this year. It pointed to economic reforms. more effort in this area. “With international support, Somalia remains committed to implementing key Communiqué issued financial and economic reforms, increasing At the end of the SPF, a communiqué transparency and accountability, including was issued which stated that “continued the transfer of funds from the Feder- inclusive dialogue to build on the consensus- al Government to the Member States, based agreement is necessary to ensure seeking membership of the World Trade the timely implementation of credible and Organisation, promoting equitable inclusive acceptable elections in order to preserve economic growth, and seeking enhanced the Somali tradition of a peaceful transfer regional economic integration as a means of power.” to greater prosperity,” it stated. It also stated that Somalia committed International partners agreed to support to approve non-contentious changes Somalia in the development