(28/-05-23) MOGADISHU – At a press conference held on Sunday at Villa Somalia, the President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, alongside the country’s prime minister and heads of regional governments, detailed the outcomes of the four-day National Consultative Council meeting which concluded last night.
The president began by acknowledging that his administration’s primary focus for the year has been on security concerns, national liberation, and debt relief – fundamental aspects towards the nation’s development.
Mohamud devoted the majority of his speech to discussing the landmark political agreement struck during the recent meeting, indicating a significant shift in the nation’s electoral system.
“The country has moved away from the old systems it used to be based on. Officials who came under the 50 elders election, (saying) I came here because of 50 elders,” said Mohamud. He insinuated a departure from the traditional clan-based electoral system, which relied on elder representatives.
Taking a step towards more representative democracy, Mohamud confirmed that the government is starting to implement elections based on people’s votes, enabling Somali citizens to choose their leaders from the district level up to the presidency.
“We want the Somali citizens to choose from the local governments to the president of the republic and put a vote in the ballot-box,” he reiterated during the press conference.
Speaking about the future of Somalia’s political landscape, Mohamud added, “The system of many parties, the system of democracy, we are doing it and we are starting it”. This comment suggested a shift to a more competitive, multi-party democratic system.
In a message to the Somali people, the president called on citizens to put aside fear and actively participate in their nation’s development. “It is up to the Somali people, and we have started it. They are being presented to their parliaments, their civil society is being discussed everywhere, t is for the Somali people to do what they want,” he continued.
Last night’s council announced an agreement on the country’s elections and government system, indicating major changes on the horizon. However, the specifics of these changes and their implementation will need to be detailed in subsequent announcements.
