In a joint communiqué released Wednesday after a two day High Level Partnership Forum, it was resolved curtailment of freedom of expression or any extension of terms limits both legislature and executive must be avoided at all costs. “We underline our strong expectation that there must not be any impediments to the timely implementation of the electoral process, including freedom of expression, nor any extension of the constitutionally mandated term limits of the legislature and executive,” read the statement in part.
The partners further called for the implementation of the 2016 Electoral Process Implementation Plan and the development of the 2030 Roadmap in an inclusive and participatory manner. The two-day conference which brought together representatives from over 50 countries and 11 international organizations was aimed at among others reviewing the Somali Compact, otherwise the New Deal agreed in 2013 in Brussels. The Deal is a development blueprint with key pillars notably on inclusive politics, economic development and federalization process in Somalia. The New Deal expires this year and the meeting deliberated on the way forward captured in a new development plan from 2016 to 2022.
The conference noted the need to overcome the current power sharing arrangement in Somalia which is based on clan system calling for universal suffrage ın 2020. Regarding the state formation process, the conference urged for the completion of Middle Shabelle/Hııraan state formation which has since stalled following disagreements among clans in the two regions. ‘’We underline the need to complete the state formation process in Hııraan and Mıddle Shabelle and also reach agreement on clarıfıcatıon of the status of Mogadıshu,’’ read the statement.