UN envoy says completing electoral process for Somalia is ‘critical’

The UN’s special envoy to Somalia James Swan said that completing the electoral process on time and based on consensus in the Horn of Africa country is “critical.”

James Swan said “Completing this electoral process on time and in a consensus-based way that enjoys support from the Somali people is really critical to addressing other priority needs in the country for the benefit of the population,.
“This is an important moment for Somalia,” said Swan, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in the country.

Somalia has witnessed a political stalemate after presidential and parliamentary elections were delayed and the president’s constitutional mandate expired on Feb. 8.
An agreement between the central government and regional leaders in the town of Dhusamareb on Sept. 17 last year was seen as a major step toward Somalia holding indirect parliamentary and presidential elections in late 2020 and early 2021, respectively.
It had since stalled as the country’s divided political leaders differed on how to proceed with the elections.
Noting that ADF in Turkey was a very fruitful platform, Swan said that he had a number of bilateral meetings to address specific concerns related to Somalia.
As part of the forum he met with officials from Qatar and Kenya plus he had a discussion with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Sedat Onal.
Recalling the agreement reached last month by the federal administration and state leaders in Somalia to resolve the election crisis that brought the country to the brink of civil war, Swan said: “Among core priorities at this time in Somalia, or moving ahead with elections, they’ve recently concluded an agreement that will permit that to proceed on a rapid timeline.”