Security Council expresses ‘regret’ over postponed electoral process in Somalia

The United Nations Security Council today expressed regret over a postponed timeline for this year’s parliamentary and presidential elections in Somalia, calling on all stakeholders to follow the revised 2016 electoral calendar “without further delay.”

Through a Presidential Statement adopted by the body, the Council’s 15 members welcomed the continued political and security progress in Somalia since 2012, underscoring the need to maintain the momentum towards democratic governance, with an inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process in 2016 as a stepping stone to universal suffrage elections in 2020.

The Council noted the consensus decision of the National Leadership Forum (NLF) to extend the timeline for the parliamentary electoral process until 25 October, and the timeline for the presidential electoral process until 30 October, to allow for the implementation of technical modalities for an inclusive process.

Further in the statement, the Council noted the NLF’s consensual decision to extend the current mandates of the federal institutions to respect this revised timeline.

Also noting that this electoral process is “an historic opportunity” to deliver more representative governance to the people of Somalia and to reflect Somalia’s diversity, the Council welcomed the NLF’s decision on representation of minority clans and the Banadiri community.

The Council urged all parties to take necessary steps to implement the provisions in the NLF communiqué of 9 August 2016, including the Government’s commitment to reserve 30 per cent of upper and lower house seats for women.

The Council urged the Government to ensure the transparent and credible electoral process in a climate of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association, and commended the establishment of an electoral dispute resolution mechanism.