New Somali constitution to be “most inclusive yet”, says Prime Minister
Mogadishu (SDN)- Somalia Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Aliannounced 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 meetnext month to discuss and adopt an interim constitution for the country.
Writing for Foreign Policy online he talked of the “formidable challenges” that face theSomali government in the run up to the end of the transitional period in August andpromised to make the Constitution-drafting process “the most inclusive yet.”In the wake of the “despicable terrorist attack” on him and his government at theNational Theatre earlier this month he thanked the international community and theAfrican Union troops for their support so far. He urged that there is “not a moment tolose” 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 betterfuture.” He emphasized.
Building legitimacy and representing the wide cross-sections of the Somali populacewill be vital to future stability, he wrote. “The lead role [in deciding Somalia’s futureConstitution] will be played by an 825-member Constituent Assembly, a body chosen torepresent the diverse segments and communities of our country, that will cometogether in the last two weeks of May.”
The Prime Minister is confident that this attempt at designing a Somali-led Constitutionwill be different from previous attempts. In the coming weeks, Somalia’s hereditarytraditional leaders will meet in Mogadishu to select their representatives for the Constituent Assembly and New Parliament. They will be assisted by a TechnicalCommittee to facilitate the needs of the traditional leaders.
The Prime Minister vowed to “leave no stone unturned” to involve people in theprocess; “My government and I have already engaged on the process of writing theconstitution in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Garowe, and Galkayo — as well as with theSomali Diaspora communities that are so vital for our future reconstruction.
We willcontinue to build inclusiveness by travelling across Somalia and abroad listening towhat our fellow Somalis have to say about the constitution.”Since the time of the Foreign Policy article the Minister for Constitution, Federalism andReconciliation met with representatives from Daadab and Dhobley refugee camps aspart of the ongoing dialogue. The Prime Minister stated that his government willcontinue to engage these and other communities.
The Prime Minister concludes the article with a candid recognition of the buildingtensions 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 themoment when citizens expect and hope for the greatest leadership. Inevitably, somepolitical factions will sow disunity. They must not prevail.”