UN urges Somali leaders to resolve impeachment issues calmly

The United Nations envoy to Somalia on Tuesday called on warring parties to resolve the impeachment motion issues through dialogue.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG) Nicholas Kay also lauded the constructive manner in which all sides have engaged in the process to resolve the impeachment motion crisis and commended their dedication and commitment to peace and stability.

"I welcome the efforts of the Speaker of the Federal Parliament and the Sponsoring Committee on the Impeachment Motion to work constructively to resolve the issues raised in the impeachment motion crisis through dialogue and consultations," Kay said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

The impeachment motion which was filed mid August has seen some 95 lawmakers sign the petition, accusing the president of having not lived up to the expectation of the Somali people.

They accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of contravening the constitution, adding that he was involved in corruption.

The lawmakers who have earlier ruled out talks to end the political bickering have urged the president to resign the way former Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf did. Yusuf resigned after parliament tried to impeach him in 2008.

Mohamud has warned the on against the campaign, calling the legislators to reflect on the country's interests and avoid creating a political mayhem which he said could derail "progressive" political and security gains in Somalia

The UN envoy urged all stakeholders to move forward quickly to find a solution to the current crisis which allows Somalia's political progress to continue without further interruption.

Kay urged the Somali leaders to come together to focus on launching the Consultative Forum to create a Somali-owned electoral process in 2016.

Source: XINHUA