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AU envoys lauds inauguration of Somalia parliament

Xinhua, December 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) envoy in Somalia lauded Tuesday's inauguration of Somalia's new parliament, terming it a symbol of progress and unity.

The head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Francisco Madeira, said the swearing-in of the members of the upper and lower houses was a critical step in the country's journey to political stability and democratization as Somalia re-establishes state institutions after two decades of civil conflict.

"The inauguration of the new parliament today is not only symbolic of the progress that Somalia is making but also attests to what is achievable when people choose unity in diversity, agree to compromise for the common good and with determination agree to pull together to fight the enemies of peace and stability in Somalia," Madeira said in a statement.

A total of 284 MPs -- 243 members of the lower house and 41 members of the upper house -- were sworn in on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu amid tight security, marking an end to a prolonged vote.

Madeira described the leap in the number of electoral delegates compared to the 2012 Somali election as a huge improvement, saying it has seen wider participation of the Somali public, including the women, youth and minorities.

In the 2012 election, 135 elders selected the then 275 MPs. This year, an electoral college of over 14,000 delegates elected the MPs.

Another remarkable improvement is the increased female representation -- from 14 percent in the 2012 parliament to the current 24 percent in the new federal parliament, Madeira said.

The improvements, the AU envoy said, are laying a strong foundation for planned universal suffrage in 2020.

He appealed to members of the 10th Somalia federal parliament to utilize their term to contribute towards the country's efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and economic development.

He also lauded Somali security forces and AMISOM troops and police for ensuring "an environment for successful completion of the electoral process cycle" as Somalia suffers frequent attacks by Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

The new MPs are expected to elect a new president in January. The presidential election, which was first set in September, has been postponed four times. Endit