The signatories to the Somali Roadmap, meeting in Addis Ababa this week, decided to amend a number of the provisions of the Roadmap to try and iron out disagreements which have been hindering progress and led to failure to implement some of the required timelines. The meeting discussed changes to the draft constitution, clarifications of committee mandates and looked at the overall progress of the Roadmap.

The meeting was attended by the signatories of the process for ending the transition, including Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government; Sharif Hassan, Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament; Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali; President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) of Puntland; President Mohamed Ahmed Aalim of Galmudug State; the Representative of Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama’a, Khalif Abdulkadir Moallim Noor; and Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, the UN Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).

Since the Transitional Federal Parliament is currently unable to pass the necessary legislation to end the transition and allow the constitutional process to proceed, the Signatories agreed to recommend that the President issues a presidential decree to provide the legal basis for the adoption of the constitutional process and end the transition. They agreed to convene the National Constituent Assembly as soon as practicable, and to that end agreed that the selection of delegates shall be finalized no later than 20th June, and the New Federal Parliament members chosen no later than 15th July.

They agreed to three additional protocols to speed up the process. One is a Protocol Establishing the Constituent Assembly and the New Federal Parliament; secondly a Protocol Establishing the Technical Selection Committee, and thirdly a Protocol Authorizing the Finalization of the Provisional Constitution with the Incorporation of the Harmonized Submissions of the Signatories to constitute the final draft for presentation to the National Constituent Assembly. The protocols are a guideline to the power and limitations of both the constituent assembly and parliament whose mandates were imprecise in previous agreements and in the draft constitution.

During the meeting the Signatories received final copies of the Draft Constitution which had been subject to a constitutional review by a technical committee which harmonized and incorporated written submissions of the signatories and others into the final draft.

The Draft Provisional Constitution will be presented to the National Constituent Assembly, and although it will still be a temporary document, the Assembly will vote on it after discussing the articles. The Provisional Constitution will then remain provisional until all federal states across Somalia are established.

The Technical Selection Committee will assist the Traditional Elders (Duubab) to ensure that nominees for the Constituent Assembly and the New Federal Parliament comply with the criteria set out by the Garowe II Conference. The Committee will also support the Assembly in resolution of disputes. It is now agreedthis will be made up of 27 Somalis together with two members from UNPOS and seven International Observers. The Somali members are to be chosen by the Signatories on the basis of the 4.5 formula. The nomination process for the New Federal Parliament is also amended. The Traditional Elders will now nominate one candidate for each seat not two. To avoid any more disagreements among clan elders or with politicians, an Arbitration Board of Traditional Elders is to be set by this weekend (May 26th) to resolve any disputes over the validation of the Traditional Elders. This will be made up of 25 Traditional Elders, 5 from each Clan to resolve any issues or disputes arising from their respective Clans.

The Signatories have also agreed to establish a Roadmap Coordination Office in Mogadishu to ensure effective communication and information sharing among the Signatories. They have also agreed to updated timelines. These are:

26th May: Establishment of the Arbitration Board of Traditional Elders

1st June: Technical Selection Committee established

20th June: Technical Selection Committee to publish finalized (and fully vetted) list of National Constituent Assembly delegates.

30th June: Selected National Constituent Assembly members to be present in Mogadishu; copies of draft constitution to be received by the NCA delegates

2nd July: Opening ceremony of the National Constituent Assembly

10th July: Adoption of the Provisional Constitution

15th July: Technical Selection Committee to publish finalized and fully vetted list of New Federal Parliament members

20th July: New Federal Parliament members sworn in

4th. August: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers by the Parliament

20th August: Election of President by the Parliament

The meeting also agreed on a number of other points. They recommended that the President approve the National Security and Stabilization Plan (2011 – 2014) by decree as Parliament is currently unable to table a motion. They urged the TFG and the International Community to provide support to Puntland and Galmudug and to Ahlu Sunna-controlled areas to help deal with the urgent security needs arising from Al-Shabaab’s moves into the Golis Mountains and from piracy. The meeting also called on the International Community to provide appropriate and timely support for the process to end the transition and to that end, lift the arms embargo. One of the problems that the process has faced has been delays in the financing promised by the international community for the Roadmap process. Both Prime Minister Abdiweli and Ambassador Mahiga requested that the promised funds be provided urgently. The meeting also underlined that no delay or obstruction would be accepted by either the Somali people or the International Community. Some TFG officials have been accused of meddling with the traditional elders who have been meeting in Mogadishu. They have been firmly warned by the Signatories and by the international community to stop this or face repercussions. “Spoilers” will be identified and named, and appropriate joint action by Somali and International Stakeholders taken. 

* Originally published on A Week in the Horn – May 25, 2012 issue, titled ‘Consultative meeting of Somalia Roadmap Signatories agree to changes’.

*************

Check the Somalia archive for related posts.