On Thursday, the autonomous region of Puntland State (North-eastern Somalia) welcomed the Security Council’s call for the Transitional Federal Government to resolve political crisis.
The Security Council, demanded the transitional government “demonstrate tangible results” on writing a new constitution and providing basic services and for elections for president and parliament speaker to be held before the August 20 transition deadline.
Prof.Abdi Hassan Jimale, Puntland’s Minister for Federal issues, commended the council’s statement, which he said supported the Federal Charter and the recommendations from the Somali high consultative conference held by the UN political office for Somalia, on 12-13 April 2011 in Nairobi Kenya.
Speaking to Horeed Media, Prof.Jimale says Puntland is calling for the elections of the TFG president and parliament speaker to be held before the August 20 transition deadline. He added his government will also invite Somali parties for a reconciliation conference to be held in Puntland.
On Wednesday, in a Presidential Statement, the security council “expressed concern at the discord between the TFIs [Transitional Federal Institutions] and its impact on the political process and the security situation.”
The Council called upon the transitional institutions to “ensure cohesion and focus on the completion of the transitional tasks.” It regretted decisions by the TFIs to extend their mandates unilaterally and urged them to refrain from further unilateral action.
The Council noted with concern that key transitional tasks remain outstanding and urged the TFIs to show results on the completion of those responsibilities before the end of the interim period. Priority should be on reconciliation, drafting of a new constitution and the delivery of essential services to the public.
Briefing the Council earlier, Augustine Mahiga, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, urged the UN body to help resolve the political dispute that has arisen between the country’s legislature and the executive over the political structure after the expiry of the mandate of the current TFIs in August.
“I appeal to the Security Council to way in on this issue,” said Mr. Mahiga. “The single most divisive issue among the political groups in Mogadishu today is the timing of the elections as provided for [in] the Charter – whether to hold it in July or to defer them to a future date,” he added.
The Council called upon the transitional institutions to “ensure cohesion and focus on the completion of the transitional tasks.” It regretted decisions by the TFIs to extend their mandates unilaterally and urged them to refrain from further unilateral action.
Horseed Media
SOMALIA: Puntland welcomes Security Council statement on Somalia
Published: May 12, 2011
