Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM) James Swan addresses UN Security Council on situation in Somalia via videoconference Feb. 22, 2021. (credit: UN)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – “Growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s State-building progress and even security”, Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM) James Swan told the UN Security Council Monday. Council members held a briefing on Somalia’s delayed elections and the steps being taken to safeguard the country’s political stability and security situation given the current state of political upheaval. A political standoff among Somali leaders has “blocked” the electoral model agreed upon by the Federal Government (FGS) and Federal Member State (FMS) leaders on 17 September, said the UNSOM chief. The failure to elect a president by the 8 February deadline endorsed by the country’s parliament has now precipitated a constitutional crisis and resulted in violence.
“I urge all of Somalia’s political leaders to pull back from confrontation and avoid risky winner-take-all tactics”,
-James Swan UNSOM chief
There are currently a series of political disputes between the Somali Federal Government, led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo”, and leaders from two of the country’s federal member states, Puntland and Jubaland. According to a 17 September 2020 agreement, parliamentary elections were to be held from 1 to 27 December and presidential elections on 8 February. On Friday, a day of protests by the opposition Council of Presidential Candidates, saw several violent incidents reported, including unconfirmed firing of weapons by Government forces to disperse protestors along with armed exchanges with opposition supporters. Although FGS and FMS representatives met earlier this month, they could not agree on modalities for selecting representatives from self-declared “Somaliland” for federal institutions or managing elections in the Gedo region of Jubaland State.
The UNSOM chief said he remains convinced that the consensus-based 17 September model “offers the best available option” to elect members of parliament, senators and the president, noting that it would minimize further delays in Somalia’s four-year transition cycle, ensure a clear and widely accepted mandate for those chosen, and allow a transition from “political competition to vital national priorities”.
But this requires Somali leaders to “use all available channels” for dialogue, he said.
