Somali PM wants transitional government end term observed
Somalia’s prime minister has insisted that the term of the current transitional government would wind down as scheduled in August, reiterating the position agreed on at last week’s well-attended London Conference.
Prof Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said that the transitional period, which was set to end last year before an extension, would end on August 20.
“There will be no further extension on the term of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG),” he said Tuesday while on a trip to Norway.
Prof Ali said that both the Somali people and the international community are determined to see a permanent government take over from the transitional institutions.
Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991.
The prime minister said that the Somali roadmap and later agreements reached in Garowe, the capital of semi-autonomous Somaliland, are sufficient to lead the TFG out of the transition period.
Take advantage
The roadmap was agreed in September 2011 with various Somali groups agreeing to improve security, attain reconciliation, instill good governance and draft a national constitution.
In Garowe, the parties agreed in December 2011 and February on how to endorse the draft constitution via a constituent assembly, selection of future legislators and the election of a president for a more permanent government for an stipulated period.
The Somali leader praised the spirit shown during the London Conference on Somalia on February 23 where the international community reached a common position on Somalia.
“We Somalis must take advantage of the golden opportunity offered by the conference hosted by British Prime Minister [ David Cameron],” said Prof Ali.
Africa Review