UN calls for swift end to transition in Somalia

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged all parties in Somalia to work together for a swift end to transition in the Horn of Africa country.

In a statement issued to the press here, the 15-nation Security Council also welcomed the recent adoption of Somalia's provisional constitution, the inaugural meeting of its new parliament and the appointment of that body's speaker.

"The members of the Security Council urged all the Roadmap Signatories to continue to work together on the basis of mutual goodwill and transparency and bring a swift end to the transition, " the statement said.

Professor Mohammed Osman Jawari was selected on Tuesday as speaker of the New Federal Parliament that was inaugurated on Aug 20, in an election that laid the groundwork for an imminent round of voting to appoint the Parliament's deputy speakers. This, in turn, would be followed by the election of the Somali president.

Some 260 Members of Parliament have now either been sworn in or are pending imminent ratification, with 15 names still remaining before the new Somali legislature reaches its total of 275 constituents.

After decades of warfare, Somalia has been undergoing a peace and national reconciliation process, with the country's transitional governing arrangements winding down with the implementation of the so-called Roadmap for the End of Transition.

"The members of the Council called on the new Federal Parliament to discharge its responsibilities with independence, transparently and free from undue influence or coercion," said the statement.

The Security Council issued the statement after Augustine Mahiga, the special representative of the UN secretary-general for Somalia, briefed the UN body on the ongoing Transition process.

With some Parliamentarian seats still empty, the Council members called for the remaining seats to be filled promptly, emphasizing the importance of a fully functioning Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Council members said a President should be elected by the Parliament "without further delay."

A roadmap was devised in September 2011 that outlined tasks towards establishing a peaceful government, with an original deadline of Aug 20 of this year.

The Security Council "called on the Signatories to refrain from unilateral action and to continue the process of dialogue and compromise," the statement said.