Int'l community concerned over parliamentary candidates with a history of violence and criminality
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Mogadishu - The United Nations, African Union, European Union,
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, the
United Kingdom and the United States are deeply concerned about the inclusion
of individuals with a history of criminality, violence and terrorism on the
lists of candidates for the Upper House of Parliament submitted by some leaders
of the existing and emerging federal member states and potentially among
candidates for the House of the People.
The nomination and potential election of any individual
responsible for the violence that characterized Somalia’s civil war represent a
regressive step at a time when Somalia is poised to turn a new page. This must
be taken into consideration by all key stakeholders as voting for Upper House
candidates continues and 14,025 electoral college delegates convene later this
month to choose members of the House of the People.
Somalis, as well as
Somalia’s international partners, deserve to have confidence in the
institutions that will emerge from the current electoral process. Every effort
should be made to ensure that the process results in the designation of
reputable holders of public office who will not undermine the legitimacy and
credibility of the new Government and Parliament.
The process of registering candidates for the 275 seats of the
House of the People is underway, and individuals with documented histories of
criminality and violence should not be chosen by electoral colleges to
represent their clans and sub-clans in the lower house of Parliament.
“Somalia is rebuilding its institutions and legitimacy after 25
years of armed conflict,” said Michael Keating, the Special Representative of
the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. “A rejection of parliamentary candidates
who have been implicated in some of the country’s worst human rights abuses
will reaffirm Somalia’s commitment to end the culture of impunity in the eyes
of its own citizens and the world at large.”
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