Somalia: UN, partners welcome new Cabinet, note inclusion of women

The United Nations has urged the new Somali Government to move quickly to deliver on its ‘Vision 2016’ agenda following the approval of a Cabinet that hat includes enhanced participation of women ministers.

“The participation of women, youth and minority groups and the commitment to work in an accountable way will remain vital as we move forward,” said a statement issued by the UN, African Union (AU), European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Kingdom and the United States after the Cabinet was approved yesterday by Somalia’s Parliament.

The statement said “2015 is a critical year to ensure continued success on the road to sustained security and stability in Somalia and to improve the lives of ordinary Somalis.”

The UN Security Council yesterday issued a statement to the media welcoming the Cabinet and “stressed the need for the Federal Government to accelerate delivery of the milestones of the Federal Government’s ‘Vision 2016.’”

The 15 members of the Security Council “underlined the importance of the new political leadership in Somalia quickly delivering in priority areas, including the passage of key legislation to establish the National Independent Electoral Commission, progress towards the establishment and strengthening of interim regional administrations, the stabilization of areas recovered from Al Shabaab, and resuming the implementation and review of the Provisional Constitution, without further delay.”

Both statements welcomed the enhanced participation of women in the new Government.

The statement by the international partners also condemned the murder on Monday of a Member of Parliament, Abdullahi Qayad Barre, who was killed by armed men in Mogadishu while on his way to Parliament.