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.

“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 Qoraac 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, andpersons 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 NationalConsultative 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.