Press Statements – July 28, 2015.
Whereas THE FORUM FOR UNITY AND DEMOCRACY (FUD) is a forum and political umbrella for various political groups and parliamentary caucuses, representing the Somali political spectrum.
Whereas THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION (NDC) is also a forum and political umbrella for various political groups and parliamentary caucuses, representing the Somali political spectrum.
Whereas the FUD and NDC having discussed the political, security, and economic situation and the issues facing the country,have become convinced that Somalia is going on a perilous course at this critical time and accordingly make the following statement:
Acknowledge the principles contained in Vision 2016 and the New Deal Compact in which the government committed to a set of important political, constitutional, security and economic milestones and related reforms so as to create a conducive environment for fair and free elections in the fall of 2016;
Concerned that the current leadership in Somalia has utterly failed to advance the objects of the Provisional Constitution, the principles contained in Vision 2016, a document which the government single-handedly developed and committed to in September 2013, and also the major commitments it entered into under the New Deal Compact document; whereas, these objects, principles, and commitments were meant to enable the country to go through important political, constitutional, security and economic milestones, and complete the consequent reforms necessary in these sectors, and usher in a stable environment for fair and free elections in the fall of 2016. Whereas, the implementation process of Vision 2016 has become a monopoly and a tool for power grabbing and an illegal extension by the President. As such, the process has lost the trust of the political stakeholders and the Somali public;
Alarmed by the outright manipulation of the selection process of the constitutionally mandated commissions and the compromising of their independence and integrity and the failure to consult with regional states and national stakeholders as required by the Provisional Constitution;
Assert and inform the Somali public that the newly formed sham National Electoral Commission, the equally sham commissions such as the Boundaries and Federations Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and the 5 member Constitutional Implementation Commission are all constituted in an illegal and unconstitutional manner and are therefore illegal. These Commissions were not designed to advance the interests of the Somali public, such interests as peace, democracy, justice and equality, but were cynically formed to serve as vehicles for corruption, injustice and vote rigging;
Concerned by the failure of the national leadership to engage in genuine political outreach, consultations, and political reconciliation with the regional states and with the national political stakeholders and civil society;
Convinced that the President has failed to safeguard the national unity of the country and the harmony of the Somali people as was mandated to him as President by the Provisional Constitution;
Condemn the President’s continuing dictatorial behavior, unconstitutional exercise of power and interference with the national institutions such as the Parliament, Judiciary, and the Executive. The president has usurped Executive authority and wrestled it repeatedly from successive Prime Ministers when Article 97 of the Provisional Constitution clearly stipulates that Executive authority of the government is vested in the Council of Ministers. The result has been the endless infighting between the President and Prime Ministers in the past three years, an infighting that has caused political gridlock and inertia in government business;
Affirm that the process of regional state formation has been compromised by the vested political interests of the leadership, a lack of transparency and the absence of a meaningful and genuine reconciliation process. This flawed process has created inter and intra-community conflicts within and between the regional states, placing the spirit of the Federation at risk;
Underline the fact that the President has failed to foster political inclusivity that is stipulated in Vision 2016 and the New Deal documents; as some dimensions of PSG1 of the New Deal Compact specifically emphasize political inclusivity, political outreach and political reconciliation with the regional states;
Alarmed by the rampant and institutionalized corruption of public resources by state leaders ranging from outright siphoning of money from the treasury as well as from other outlets, illegally auctioning off public lands and signing of international contracts without proper procurement processes and procedures;
Deplore the government violations of human rights principles safeguarded in our Provisional Constitution, as there is irrefutable evidence of arbitrary arrest of civilians and media workers, trial of civilians in military courts, and the execution of some of these civilians tried in military courts. The leadership has engaged in conducts of intimidation in order suppress opposition, free media and curtail freedom of expression;
CONSIDERING THE ABOVE AND CONSCIOUS OF THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO RESCUE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY
Now, THEREFORE,
THE FUD AND NDC are of the view that the country is heading in a perilous direction due to the failure of the current leadership which has failed to advance the objectives of the Provisional Constitution, further national unity and harmony, and implement the critical national agenda envisioned under the Vision 2016 document. Because of the urgency of the matters mentioned above, FUD and NDC:
Call for a concerted and renewed political engagement by all Somali political stakeholders including those from the federal government and regional states, political parties/fora and the civil society in order to unite and act on a common platform to collectively address the impending political crisis;
Call for all stakeholders to convene a National Political Dialogue (NPD) within a short period of time in a venue acceptable to the various segments of the political and civil spectrum. The NPD shall deliberate on the way forward for the national political agenda leading to an accountable, responsible and democratically elected governance;
Call for the international partners to support an inclusive political dialogue driven by the Somalis that aims to come up with fresh, re-focused and re-prioritized approach to the Vision 2016 exit strategy, that is credible and practical;
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For further information on the above Joint Statement from the FUD and NDC, please contact:
Abdirahman Hosh Jibril
MP, former Minister of Constitution and founding member of the NDC.
Tel: +254704973651; +252618546328;
Email: [email protected]
Duale Adam Mohamed
Former Minister of Higher Education and Culture and founding member of the FUD.
Tel: +254713221119, +252615476256
Email: [email protected]
