UN Envoy Kay congratulates Somalis on consultations across the country.
"Over the past two days, Somalia spoke. Somalis across the country gathered and
discussed the four options for the 2016 electoral process that have been
proposed. In doing so, they upheld a
fundamental principle of Somali society and politics, that of open deliberation
among all stakeholders, in the manner of discussions under the acacia tree,”
said SRSG Kay. "But Somalis also took a major step forward: while one-person
one-vote elections may not be possible in 2016, this consultative process
facilitates the participation of a wider segment of Somali society in deciding
on what the most appropriate and feasible electoral process for 2016 will be.”
SRSG Kay noted with great satisfaction the active
engagement and participation of Somalis from all walks of life across the
country. "All of Somalia needs to be
heard. Youth, women, elders, minorities,
religious leaders, and persons with disabilities – they all need to have their
say. This in itself is an important expression of democratic values.”
"In the coming days there will be consultations with
the few remaining communities not so far involved, followed by the second
plenary meeting of the National Consultative Forum, in Mogadishu, where views
expressed at these regional consultations will be deliberated on with the aim
of reaching agreement on the most appropriate electoral model for 2016. The
United Nations, along with other international partners, will continue to
support this crucial process,” SRSG Kay added.
UN Envoy Kay congratulates Somalis on consultations across the country.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, congratulated the Somali people on the regional consultations on options for the 2016 electoral process, which concluded across the country today.