Somalia’s prime minister, regional presidents and the Benadir governor have signed the May 27 Election Agreement which removes obstacles to the long-awaited federal elections.
The prime minister, Mr. Mohamed Hussein Roble, and other signatories penned the election agreement, closing the National Electoral Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu in recent days.
The resolution of this long-standing stalemate in the conduct of the federal elections is the last chapter of a divisive process.
The leaders of the federal and state governments have in recent days agreed on difficult issues ahead of the elections, which has made it easier for all parties to finally reach an agreement.
The closing ceremony of the election conference in Mogadishu held at the invitation of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was attended by the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament, members of the Union of Presidential Candidates, ambassadors and various sectors of civil society.
Prime Minister Roble, speaking at the closing ceremony thanked all parties involved in the election and said that leaders had shown compromise and put the country’s interests before private interests.
He also thanked the outgoing president, state leaders, politicians, the international community and the Somali people in general.
Mr. Roble announced that all points of view have been agreed upon, such as the Gedo region, the electoral process in the Northern regions, the vetting of the structure of the federal and state election commissions as well as the security of the country’s elections.
The Prime Minister pledged that his government would make every effort to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
He also called on all stakeholders in the electoral process and the Somali community to play their part in the conduct of the elections and to overcome the political and security challenges facing the country.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying that his government is committed to protecting the quota for Somali women in government.
President Farmajo’s speech at the extraordinary session of the Somali Parliament on May 1 paved the way for this May 27 agreement. At that time, he transferred the conduct of the elections and the direction of the elections security to his prime minister.
