UN lauds Mursal’s election, urges fast-tracking of legislative process

UN chief in Somalia Michael Keating has hailed the election of new Lower House Speaker Mohamed Mursal and urged collaborative efforts between the executive and parliament in enacting many pending bills in Parliament.

In a statement Monday, Keating said both arms of government must now move in unity and speed to fast track the constitutional review process and build requisite structures for good governance.

“With the election of the Speaker now completed, the United Nations urges the country’s legislative and executive branches to work together constructively to enact the many pending draft bills in Parliament,” the statement read in part. It singled out need to clarify federal arrangements, reform of the security sector, preparations for the 2020 elections, fighting corruption and improving accountability, and enabling the State to increase revenue collection and disbursement.

Keating also called for respect of rule of law in conduct of government business to build public confidence in state institutions.

“The supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law should be respected in the conduct of all parliamentary and government business,” said Mr. Keating. “The people of Somalia will benefit if political actors take steps to strengthen the capacity and bolster the integrity of key State institutions.”

Mursal was elected Monday after garnering 147 votes trouncing ten other competitors. He now takes the reins from former Speaker Mohamed Jawari who resigned after a political stand-off. Keating praised Jawari for ‘for his extraordinary commitment to state-building in Somalia, including his achievements as a leader of the ninth and tenth parliaments’.

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