Somalia: Amb. Mahiga says ‘influence from aspiring politicians, will threaten process’ 1 Aug 1, 2012 - 8:57:50 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Aug 1 2012 (Garowe Online) – UN Special Representative to Somalia, issued a stark warning to Somali leaders and aspiring politicians, Garowe Online reports.
Augustine Mahiga released a statement on Wednesday, after the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) voted to adopt the Somali constitution.
In ambassador Mahiga’s statement he warns of coercion and incentives for politicians looking for political seats in the new federal parliament.
"There have been disturbing reports of undue influence from aspiring politicians in current and former positions," said Ambassador Mahiga.
The Ambassador added that the seats of the new federal parliament should not become “commodities for sale or items for auction”.
Despite Wednesday’s achievement of adopting a constitution, Ambassador Mahiga stills feels that the transitional process is under threat adding that those who are threatening the process have been identified.
“The people who are using intimidation and extortion tactics are known.
“It’s inconceivable for the parliament to begin its new task on such a wrong footing,” continued Ambassador Mahiga.
According to local sources, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be meeting with leaders, who had been involved in the peace process, and the secretary is expected to reiterate Ambassador Mahiga’s statements.
However, whether or not the international community will name the officials who they feel are responsible for attempting to derail the political process is unknown.
The Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group’s leaked report, shed light to wide scale corruption in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but neither Ambassador Mahiga nor international community officials have taken any measures against top Somali officials who were implicated in the report.
The full SEMG report was initially supposed to be given to the UN Security Council however its leaking coincided with TFG officials announcing their campaign bids for presidency. Top TFG officials implicated in the report have denied the reports’ allegations.
