Somalia launches consultative forum for 2016 elections

The Somalia government has launched a national consultative forum as part of efforts to hold peaceful elections in 2016.

The National Consultative Forum (NCF) is an integral part of the process will support Somalia to reach agreement on the 2016 electoral process.

A statement issued on Tuesday in Mogadishu said the forum which was held on Monday and attended by the country's political stakeholders will enable the transfer of power when the government's mandate expires in 2016.

Speaking at the forum Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud lauded the development, saying his government, including the interim regional administrations and the Federal Parliament in July agreed to develop a comprehensive national consultative process to produce possible electoral process options for 2016.

"We are very proud to launch the National Consultation Forum as the first step in this process. What we must make certain is that by August 2016 we have a workable electoral process in place through which the political transition will happen: peacefully, smoothly and legitimately," Mohamud said.

"We have just approved a plan that will ensure that Somalis will have a real say in their own future.

The president said he committed when he was elected three years ago to a transfer of political power in 2016, a commitment he said still stands.

"There will be no extension to either the executive or legislative term. Our constitution demands this, and all of us here today - your leaders - will ensure it," Mohamud said.

The consultative forum, which involves the country stakeholders including regional leaders and civil society, seeks "guiding principles" presented and endorsed at high-level partnership forum which was held in the Somali capital in July.

The forum hosted by Somali government tries to brainstorm on the most appropriate ways to hold transparent and inclusive elections in 2016, and enabling power transfer when the current government's term expires in 2016.

"We have pledged that by January 2016, we will have agreed and confirmed an electoral process that enhances the legitimacy of the incoming government," said Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake.

"This means that the federal and regional governments, together with the Somali public must stand ready to embrace the process of national consultations and contribute to the electoral process that they think most appropriate for 2016," he added.

The PM said he has charged the Council of Ministers and the broader government that they no time to waste.

"The international community will be our strong partners in this enterprise and I am confident they are stand-by mode and ready to assist both with technical expertise and the resources required to support this Constitutionally-mandated political transition," Sharmarke said.

The National Consultation Forum, including members of the Federal Parliament, and supported by a task force and a technical support team hosted by the ministry of interior and federal affairs, will draw on input based on a series of regional consultations and civic dialogues to decide on the form of the 2016 electoral process.

The consultation process overseen by the NCF will consist of a series of regional consultations held from October to November, supported by a civic dialogue initiative and national communication activities. Endit