PRESS STATEMENT 13/2017

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael Keating, welcomed the opening of the Somali Parliament and congratulated the Speaker and the Parliamentarians. The SRSG attended the ceremony for the official opening of the Second Session of the Somali Parliament in the presence of the President, the Speaker of the House of the People, the Prime Minister, the Presidents of the Federal Member States and senior government officials including members of the Cabinet on 8 July.

“Congratulations to the Speaker and the parliamentarians,” said SRSG Keating. “This parliament has stronger credentials than its predecessors and is fundamentally important to Somalia's future success. The expectations of it by the Somali people are high.”

“This is a unique moment. The big question is whether this parliament will be able to seize the political opportunity Somalia now faces, whether in terms of the legitimacy of the Federal Government, its own credibility including 25 percent women, and in terms of high levels of international support for Somalia,” said Mr. Keating. “The Somali parliament can make a decisive contribution to progress by passing key legislation, including the electoral law, legislation enabling a constitutional review and revenue generating laws.”

The SRSG added that real sovereignty for Somalia depends upon the country reducing its dependency upon others, and its ability to raise revenues and shapes its own agenda, particularly to strengthen security and the rule of law, advance peace and reconciliation and engage Somalia's amazing entrepreneurial spirit and private sector to create jobs.

The international community and UN system remain committed to working with the parliament to achieve concrete results for the benefit of the people of Somalia.