Somalia's leaders urged to hold inclusive dialogue ahead of 2020 polls

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The international partners called on Somali leaders to forge political consensus which they said is critical ahead of the one-person-one-vote elections in 2020.

The partners including the Africa Union, EU, UN, and the United States also welcomed the recent meeting between President Mohamed Farmajo and two former presidents, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sheikh Sharif, which discussed Somalia's priorities and the importance of preserving open political space.

"They also welcomed the consultations between President Farmajo and more than 50 political parties, as a positive step to foster inclusive dialogue ahead of the 2020 'one-person, one-vote' elections," said the partners in a joint statement issued on Wednesday evening.

Somalia, with the help of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the UN, is making urgent preparations for universal suffrage elections, which will be the first of its kind after more than two decades since the outbreak of the civil war.

Parliamentary and presidential elections took place in late 2016 and early 2017 through a system of indirect suffrage.

The partners encouraged further engagement among key stakeholders at both the national and Federal Member State level to ensure inclusive dialogue with a view to a broad consensus on peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible elections which they said will be a historic moment in the state-building process.

The AMISOM said it has been working closely with the federal and state governments to secure Somalia and provide a conducive environment for universal elections.

GAROWE ONLINE