Somalia Leaders Sign Agreements on Government Formation

Somali leaders have concluded a conference in the Puntland State of Somalia by signing an agreement on the formation of a new elected government.

The three-day conference, attended by international delegates, ended early Saturday, with the Somali representatives agreeing to set up a bicameral legislature of upper and lower house representatives from the country’s states.

The new parliament will have a membership of 30 percent women.

Somalia is to adopt a constitution before the elections which are to be held within a year.

During opening statements of the conference, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole urged leaders and Somalia people to reconcile their differences and work together to establish a strong and stable democracy.

Somalia has not had a recognized central government since 1991 when rebels took over the country and it spiraled into chaos.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.