Mogadishu (SONNA) – His Excellency Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, today expressed his deep sorrow over the statement issued by the Office of the President this morning.
The statement was intended as a pretext for the President to disrupt the country’s electoral process at a critical juncture.
As the timing of this document, which is scheduled for the National Consultative Assembly meeting to expedite the electoral process, and to ensure the transparency of the election, is a plan by the President to prevent the meeting from taking place which clearly indicates that The President will never condone and will not relinquish power in this country to the people of Somalia.
We share with the Somali people and the international community that the President has spent time, money, and mind during his tenure in office in an attempt to ensure that the elections are only responsive to his will or pave the way for a term extension unfortunate.
Since the Prime Minister took over the leadership of the electoral process, the President has been constantly hampered by the implementation of the agreed-upon elections, using various tactics that if once resolved, he comes up with another, until this morning when he issued an unlawful and irresponsible declaration.
It is noteworthy that the election led by the Prime Minister is equal for all Somalis, especially the candidates running for the leadership of the country including the President, so it is not acceptable for a particular candidate to try to make an effect on the elections for a particular outcome.
We want to make it clear to the Somali people that the responsibility for the elections lies with the Prime Minister and the National Consultative Assembly, so the National Consultative Council meeting announced by the Prime Minister will take place in Mogadishu as planned.
The Prime Minister is holding a series of like-minded meetings with civil society, the Council of Candidates and the international community to hear their suggestions on the transparency of the elections and the completion of the Parliament on time which will be finalized at the planned National Coalition meeting.
The Prime Minister informs the Somali people and the international community that it is time to work together against individuals who pose a threat to peace and state-building in Somalia to avoid a political and security crisis in the country.
Finally, the Prime Minister, in the discharge of his national mandate under the Provisional Constitution, and in accordance with the Political Agreements empowered to lead the elections and security, promises the people of Somalia, in collaboration with the National Consultative Assembly, to consolidate its efforts to complete the elections and to maintain its transparency because that is the only solution open for this Nation’s Election which will lead to a legitimate and peaceful transfer of power.
