Somalia:Local EU statement calling on Somali Federal Institutions to unlock the 2016 electoral process

Over the past days, International partners have constructively engaged with the Federal leadership,

the National Leadership Forum (NLF) and the ad hoc Parliamentary Committee in their efforts to

enable and legalise the electoral process in 2016. All expressed their commitment to the swift

endorsement of the necessary electoral bill, and to fulfil their previous commitments to endorse the

National Leadership Forum’s unanimous agreement on the 2016 electoral process model.

We strongly regret that this matter has not been resolved prior to the United Nations Security

Council visit of 19 May. An important opportunity was missed and so we call, once more, upon all

Somali political actors to demonstrate their unequivocal determination to respect their

constitutional duty and commitment towards the 2016 elections and for Parliament to fulfil its

responsibilities. Failure to do so will jeopardise the Somali political process and set Somalia several

years back.

The EU and its Member States have been by the side of the Somali people and have invested

considerably in the post-transition process. Despite the challenges, important progress has been

registered. However, unless immediate action is taken, this progress is at risk of being reversed and

we will be compelled to review our engagement and support to the Federal Institutions and call for

an emergency international meeting on Somalia