'Growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s state-building progress' - Security Council Briefing

The Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), today (22 Feb) told the Security Council that “growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s state-building progress and even security unless they are resolved through dialogue and compromise in the interest of the country.”

Briefing via video teleconference (VTC), James Swan, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Somalia, said, “unfortunately, instead we are seeing increased brinkmanship, pressure tactics, and tests of strength that can only heighten risks.”

The political standoff, he said, “has blocked implementation of the electoral model agreed by the Federal Government of Somalia President and Federal Member State leaders on 17 September 2020.”

Swan said the consensus-based 17 September model “offers the best available option to proceed quickly to an electoral process for selection of members of parliament, senators, and the president” and would “minimize further delays in Somalia’s four-year transition cycle, ensure that the chosen national leaders have a clear mandate and are widely accepted, and allow the country to turn its attention from the current political competition to other vital national priorities in the interest of its people.”

He said, “the Somali people have waited a long time to see progress, and it remains fragile,” and urged Somalia’s political leaders “to pull back from confrontation and avoid risky winner-take-all tactics.”

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