UN calls for elections in Somalia ‘as soon as possible’

The UN envoy for Somalia on Monday called for an agreement to hold elections “as soon as possible” after gunfire erupted during an opposition protest in the capital Mogadishu this week last.

In a quarterly UN Security Council videoconference, James Swan urged “all of Somalia’s political leaders to step aside from the confrontation and avoid risky win-win tactics.”

“Instead, now is the time to continue dialogue and compromise to reach an inclusive and credible political agreement to hold elections as soon as possible on the basis of the September 17 model,” he added. .

Somalia missed a deadline to hold elections on February 8, when President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known by his nickname Farmajo, was due to step down, triggering a constitutional crisis in the already fragile state.

On September 17, the five regional leaders of Farmajo and Somalia reached an agreement that abandoned the promised one-person-one-vote ballot, but offered a common path for the elections.

But they were unable to resolve the disputes over how the vote should be conducted.

A coalition of opposition candidates said they no longer recognize Farmajo as president and have promised mass protests until he resigns.

“I remain convinced that the consensual model of September 17 offers the best option available to proceed rapidly to an electoral process for the selection of deputies, senators and the president,” said the UN envoy.

“The message from the partners was clear that there should be no by-elections, parallel processes, or unilateral actions by Somali leaders. Such approaches would only lead to greater division and risk of confrontation, ”he warned.

Friday’s violence saw a small group of protesters attempting to walk down the main airport road when gunshots rang out, sending them into hiding for safety, according to AFP footage from the ‘incident.

We don’t know who opened fire first.

The violence has since abated, but the months-old political tensions have not abated, said Francisco Madeira, African Union head of mission in Somalia.

He also called for credible elections to be held as soon as possible.

In Somalia, where the militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab linked to Al-Qaeda remains active, the fragile federal government controls only part of the territory, despite the support of the African Union force, largely funded by the Union. European.

The mandate of this force expires on February 28 and is expected to be renewed this weekend by the UN Security Council.

Acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, who also called for an election, said on Monday that the United States joined Somalia in calling for some Shabaab leaders to be put on the sanctions list of the United States. ‘UN.

“Today we joined with the Somali Federal Government in co-nominating three senior al-Shabaab leaders, Abukar Ali Adan, Maalim Ayman and Mahad Karate, to the list of 751 sanctions against Somalia,” he said. he said.

These sanctions include the possibility of asset freezes and travel bans.

“These appointments demonstrate that the international community will hold accountable those who undermine peace, security and stability in Somalia,” the US diplomat said.