Araweelo News Network

Shirka Brusells ee Arrimaha Soomaalida

JOINT STATEMENTS

Somalia Partnership Forum Joint Communiqué

 

Preamble

 

1. Representatives from 58 countries and 6 international organisations gathered in Brussels on the 16th and 17th of July 2018 to participate in the 2nd Somalia Partnership Forum (SPF), following the successful inaugural SPF in Mogadishu on the 5th of December 2017.

2. The meeting was opened by H.E. Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, co-convened by H.E Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and H.E. Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs from Sweden, and co- chaired by H.E. Smail Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Rosemary di Carlo, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, H.E. Hafez Ghanem, Vice President for Africa at the World Bank, and Lindy Cameron, Director General, Country Programmes, Department for International Development from the United Kingdom.

3. We recognise that the meeting takes place in a context of recent positive and historic developments in the Horn of Africa and enhanced engagement between the leaders of the region, creating new opportunities for reconciliation, stability, regional cooperation and economic integration. This new momentum should be seized by all Somali actors and we call for all in the international community to cooperate towards that end.

4. Somalia is on an upward trajectory and is making progress in a number of critical areas despite extraordinary challenges. Reconciliation among Somalis, stability and security, economic growth and prosperity without corruption, and equitable representation continue to be the goals for all women, men, and children in Somalia. We commend the progress made towards achieving them since the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the Federal Member States (FMS), the Benadir Regional Administration (BRA), the Parliament, religious authorities, the private sector and many Somali citizens as well as civic groups. Somali leadership and unity of purpose will be key to achieving these goals, along with sustained, timely, and coherent international support, all within the spirit of mutual accountability.

 

5. However, progress in Somalia cannot be taken for granted. Institutional capacities need to be strengthened, as well as the required accountability mechanisms that underpin long-term progress. We recognise that risks that could undermine progress remain. Ongoing insurgency, violent extremism, climate change, unregulated competition for power and resources, lack of justice and corruption can pose a threat to all Somalis. We will spare no effort to uncover and prevent those who seek to interrupt the progress of Somalia towards reconciliation, peace, and prosperity.

 

6. We welcome the landmark political agreement between the FGS and FMS which paves the way for the drafting, consultation and passage of the election law in 2018. This will be a major step towards the realisation of a historic one- person-one-vote election in 2020 for the first time since 1969. We emphasise that Somalia needs a completed and endorsed constitution that provides a durable political framework for the country.

 

7. We also welcome the decisions at the National Security Council meetings on resource sharing, security force integration, and the Transition Plan. We further welcome the endorsement of this plan by the AU Peace and Security Council and the commitment to its implementation, as expressed in its Communique of 27 June 2018.

 

8. We pay tribute to AMISOM and the Troop and Police Contributing Countries. We are grateful for their commitment that has been essential to Somalia’s progress. The presence of AMISOM remains critical to enable Somalia to develop its capabilities to gradually assume responsibility for security as well as Somalia’s political and stabilisation process.

 

9. We deplore and regret the loss of innocent lives as a result of the continued attacks by extremist groups as well as regional and local armed conflict. We are united in our determination to fight terrorism, not only with professional security forces but through a comprehensive approach to security. This includes tackling the underlying causes of terrorism through strengthening the rule of law and the administration of justice, upholding human rights, strengthening governance, providing social and economic alternatives for the marginalised youth, and promoting reconciliation.

 

10. The FGS has made impressive progress towards achieving debt relief which will offer Somalia the opportunity to have access to international concessional financing and increased financial resources. Agreements in revenue sharing will both consolidate the federal project and enhance the revenues transparently available for Somalia and its citizens. The generation and distribution of revenue must meet the highest standards of accountability.

 

11. We welcome the actions taken to prevent an onset of famine in 2017 and encourage partners to address Somalia’s current humanitarian needs, as set out in the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan. We further welcome the proactive work undertaken in building a long-term Resilience and Recovery Framework (RRF) and encourage broad engagement within this Framework, under the leadership of the FGS, with strong FMS and BRA participation.

 

12. We reaffirm the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Somalia, and underscore the importance of working to prevent destabilizing effects of regional crises and disputes from spilling over into Somalia. We welcome the positive engagement amongst regional States, and call on all nations to ensure their support for Somalia fosters unity and reconciliation among its communities.

 

Inclusive Politics

 

13. We welcome the commitment of Somalia, led by H.E. President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed, to hold a multi-party universal election in 2020. We commend the FGS for putting inclusive politics at the core of its reform agenda towards Federalisation and Constitutional Review as expressed through the Political Roadmap for Inclusive Politics. We call on the executive and legislative branches to meet their commitment to deliver legislation that will pave the way for holding a historic one-person-one-vote that will realise the wishes of the Somali public. We express our commitment to its implementation in an enduring spirit of unity.

 

14. We congratulate the President and Somalia’s leaders both at the Federal and FMS level for charting a path to realise Somalia’s constitutionally guaranteed one-person one-vote elections, as stipulated in the Somali Provisional Constitution. This meaningful process must be encouraged and supported to ensure clarification of all outstanding issues, the passage of the electoral law by Parliament by December 2018, continued registration of political parties, finalisation of related constitutional amendments, amendment to the political parties law, protecting inclusivity, particularly in terms of ensuring equal participation and representation of women in decision-making, as well as IDPs, youth, minorities and disadvantaged groups.

 

15. We support the FGS and Parliament’s efforts to work closely together in ensuring the successful implementation of the political transformation based on political parties, including through alignment of relevant articles in the FMS constitutions with the Federal Constitution.

 

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Source: www.eeas.europa.eu