New Somali constitution to be “most inclusive yet”, says Prime Minister

Mogadishu Axad 15 April 2012 SMC

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New Somali constitution to be “most inclusive yet”, says Prime Minister

[Mogadishu 14 April, 2012] Somalia Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali announced today that Somalia is nearing the “end of our quest for a new constitution” and says an assembly of community representatives from around the country will meet
next month to discuss and adopt an interim constitution for the country.

Writing for Foreign Policy online he talked of the “formidable challenges” that face the Somali government in the run up to the end of the transitional period in August and promised to make the Constitution-drafting process “the most inclusive yet.”
In the wake of the “despicable terrorist attack” on him and his government at the National Theatre earlier this month he thanked the international community and the African Union troops for their support so far. He urged that there is “not a moment to lose” and that the hard-won gains must be built on urgently under any circumstances.

“Terrorists and spoilers alike will not shatter the hopes of the Somali people for a better future.” He emphasized.
Building legitimacy and representing the wide cross-sections of the Somali populace will be vital to future stability, he wrote. “The lead role [in deciding Somalia’s future Constitution] will be played by an 825-member Constituent Assembly, a body chosen to represent the diverse segments and communities of our country, that will come together in the last two weeks of May.”

The Prime Minister is confident that this attempt at designing a Somali-led Constitution will be different from previous attempts. In the coming weeks, Somalia’s hereditary traditional leaders will meet in Mogadishu to select their representatives for the Constituent Assembly and New Parliament. They will be assisted by a Technical Committee to facilitate the needs of the traditional leaders.

The Prime Minister vowed to “leave no stone unturned” to involve people in the process; “My government and I have already engaged on the process of writing the constitution in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Garowe, and Galkayo -- as well as with the
Somali Diaspora communities that are so vital for our future reconstruction. We will continue to build inclusiveness by travelling across Somalia and abroad listening to what our fellow Somalis have to say about the constitution.”

Since the time of the Foreign Policy article the Minister for Constitution, Federalism and Reconciliation met with representatives from Daadab and Dhobley refugee camps as part of the ongoing dialogue. The Prime Minister stated that his government will continue to engage these and other communities.

The Prime Minister concludes the article with a candid recognition of the building tensions as transition nears and how some will try to disrupt plans to build national stability; “In the past, Somali politicians have been guilty of fracturing -- just at the moment when citizens expect and hope for the greatest leadership. Inevitably, some political factions will sow disunity.

They must not prevail.” The article by the Prime Minister of Somalia, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, can be found in full at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/05/were_winning_this_fight

Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow)
Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Somalia
& Spokesperson of the Government
Tel: +252615479911 or +252699998854
E-mail: ayarisow@opm.gov.so
E-mail: engabdirahman@gmail.com

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