Somalia on path to end transition: Assembly convenes to debate constitution
Special assembly tasked with voting on new constitution convenes for first
time, as government approaches end of its mandate next month.
First Published: 2012-07-25
MOGADISHU - A special assembly tasked with voting on a new constitution for
war-torn Somalia convened for the first time Wednesday, as the
corruption-riddled government approaches the end of its mandate next month.
Billed as the key to lifting anarchic Somalia out of two decades of civil
war, the end of the transitional government comes as regional forces have
wrested a series of key strongholds from Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents.
The 825-member National Constituent Assembly (NCA) -- chosen by traditional
elders in a UN-backed process -- are due to meet for nine days to debate on
a provisional constitution, before final ratification by a national
referendum.
"It is encouraging to see that progress is being made," the UN Special
Representative for Somalia Augustine Mahiga said in a statement ahead of the
opening of the assembly.
"It marks significant progress towards ending the transition and providing
the new political institutions for a stable and functional state in Somalia,
after 21 years of political and civil strife," he added.
Hundreds of delegates crowded into the meeting hall -- a former police
academy -- with heightened security provided by African Union troops and
government forces, a reporter said.
The complicated process is seen as a key step as the Western-backed
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ends its mandate next month, after
eight years of infighting and minimal political progress.
Somalia has been without a stable central government since the ouster of
former president Siad Barre in 1991.
The draft constitution envisions a federal republic with laws "compliant
with the general principles of Sharia" or Islamic law, and proposes a
multi-party system with women "included in all national institutions".
All citizens, regardless of "sex, religion, social or economic status...
shall have equal rights and duties before the law," the draft adds.
Anyone with a "record of serious crime or crimes against humanity" is
officially barred from the assembly, which aims to include representatives
from across society.
Officially, at least 30% are women, with members including the youth,
religious scholars, traditional elders, the business community, academics
and the diaspora.
The self-declared independent nation of Somaliland has refused to
participate, although the current draft constitution lays claim to the
north-western region as part of Somalia.
Bowed down by repeated droughts and riven by over two decades of conflict,
Somalia is torn between rival clans, Islamist insurgents and the government,
propped up by a 17,000-strong AU force.
Transitional institutions, including the presidency and the parliament, were
set up in 2004 but must be replaced by permanent institutions by August 20.
A leaked UN report earlier this month accused the current government of
"pervasive corruption" estimating as much as 70% of state revenues had been
stolen or squandered.
However, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, fingered by the report, has
dismissed the accusations and said he is "very confident" he will retain the
country's top job.
In 2011, almost a quarter of total government expenditure -- over $12
million -- was "absorbed" by the offices of the president, prime minister
and speaker, almost as much as was spent on security, the report said.
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Received on Wed Jul 25 2012 - 18:25:18 EDT
