EU threatens support to Somalia unless Parliament adopts electoral model in time

The European Union has warned its engagement with Somalia will be on the line unless the 2016 electoral model is adopted by parliament.

In a strongly worded statement Friday, the EU said it was frustrated by the slow process in adopting the process noting it was ready to take decisive action should the electoral model not be legalised in time.

“Unless immediate action is taken, this progress is at risk of being reversed and we will be compelled to review our engagement and support to the Federal Institutions and call for an emergency international meeting on Somalia,” the EU warned. The EU is a major donor to Somalia through its funding to federal institutions and several projects in the country. It also pays for AMISOM troops stipends.

It further noted failure to endorse the electoral plan will jeopardise the Somali political process and set Somalia several years back.

The statement follows the UN Security Council meeting in Mogadishu Thursday in which the Council also warned against any attempts to further delay the process.

The EU said it was disturbed that despite its earlier call to parliament on May 14 in a joint statement with other international partners, Parliament had not registered any progress.

“We strongly regret that this matter has not been resolved prior to the United Nations Security Council visit of 19 May,” EU lamented.

An important opportunity was missed and so we call, once more, upon all Somali political actors to demonstrate their unequivocal determination to respect their constitutional duty and commitment towards the 2016 elections and for Parliament to fulfil its responsibilities, the EU noted.

Pressure is mounting on Somali parliament and the president to adopt the electoral process in readiness for the August polls. The US Saturday said it was deeply concerned by the slow progress noting legitimacy of Somali federal institutions depends on Somalia’s leaders following through with a transparent political transition prior to the expiration of the current government’s mandate.

Parliament is Saturday debating the electoral modalities but it remains to be seen whether it will accede to international pressure to drop its objections to the proposals as submitted by the National Leadership Forum.