Somalia to hold national consultations on constitution review

THE Federal Government of Somalia is set to launch national consultations on the constitution review.

The Federal Minister of Constitutional Affairs Abdurahman Hosh Jibril said the process will engage all citizens, to ensure their views are represented in the new constitution. "The next two years are very crucial because that is the timeline we have to complete the review of the constitution," explained the minister, Jibril according to information from Mogadishu.

"In order for that document to have the requisite legitimacy, we need to take it to the public for consultations and conduct civic education," he said.

He was speaking shortly after a meeting with the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson (SRCC), for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, at AMISOM Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

Somalia's provisional constitution which the country seeks to review, was adopted on August 1, 2012 by the National Constitutional Assembly. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the Federal Republic and is the source of the country's legal authority, which sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of government

The minister said the Federal Government was seeking the assistance of the AU Mission to deliver the new constitution.

"AMISOM is already an important partner in the stabilization of Somalia, and we are very grateful for that. The AU is presently paying a heavy price in the stabilization of Somalia; but since the African Union is involved on the military sphere, we also believe that it is very important that they engage with us on the political front, because those should go hand in hand," explained the minister. "The military option alone will not solve the problems we have."

Discussions between the minister and Ambassador Madeira focused on AMISOM's support to the Federal Government, to enable it successfully hold the planned nationwide consultations.

The minister who was accompanied by the Director General at the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Mohamed A. Zubeyr commended AMISOM for role it has played in Somalia's stabilization, which he added had been critical in implementing the country's political process.

Ambassador Madeira commended the Federal Government for spearheading the constitution review process and pledged AMISOM's commitment to helping Somalia get a new constitution.

A national conference bringing on board all stakeholders, will be held in the coming weeks, to kick start consultations. Thereafter, deliberations will be held in the regional states and the diaspora.