MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somali government leaders have been asked to resolve their disagreements through dialogue and give top priority to holding long-delayed national elections this year.
In a statement isssued after UN security council meeting which was attended by the members of the council, UN urged the federal government and regional states “to ensure that any political differences do not divert from united action against al-Shabab and other militant groups”.
Britain´s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who called for Friday’s closed briefing by U.N. special envoy James Swan, expressed serious concern about “the rising tensions between the prime minister and the president.”
She said it was clear from Swan´s briefing that shuttle diplomacy is taking place to try to resolve the differences between the president and prime minister.
The call by UN comes barely after the international community warned that the escalating dispute between the President and Prime Minister will undermine Somalia’s stability and derail the electoral process.
“We urge the President and Prime Minister to resolve their differences immediately, avoid further unhelpful exchanges of public statements and personnel announcements, refrain from any action that could destabilize the security situation, and re-focus on concluding the overdue elections without further delay,” the statement reads in part.
The partners said ongoing division and politicization risks undermining the important progress that has been made.
“The Somali people need and deserve effective and inclusive governance,” the partners said.
Somalia was expected to hold parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
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