JOINT PRESS STATEMENT: International community congratulates Galmudug regional assembly on elections

Mogadishu, 04 July 2015: The United Nations, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United States of America welcomed the successful conclusion of elections for the Galmudug Interim Administration today and congratulated the newly elected President, Mr. Abdikarim Hussein Guled and Vice President Mr. Mohamed Hashi Abdi.“We congratulate the winning candidates and commend the parliamentary electoral committee for the credible manner in which the elections were conducted, in particular for ensuring transparency through live-broadcasting of the elections via radio and television.

We urge President Guled and Vice President Abdi to appoint an inclusive administration reflecting the composition of the Central Region communities while ensuring adequate representation of women.

We acknowledge the role of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and congratulate them for their active engagement in a successful process. We also commend the other candidates who participated and accepted the results of the elections.

There is a need to expeditiously address key issues that have emerged from the process, in particular, to pursue negotiations to address the concerns and claims of other parties that need to be included in the process.  We urge the new administration to be inclusive, embrace reconciliation and negotiate in good faith with all concerned parties. We also ask all stakeholders to engage constructively with the new administration and resolve differences.

We call on the Galmudug administration and FGS to open dialogue with Puntland to resolve the dispute on boundaries, noting that the legal issues arising from state formation processes will ultimately be resolved through the work of the Boundaries and Federation Commission and the harmonisation of constitutions.

We urge both FGS and Puntland to respect the agreements signed between Garowe and Mogadishu on the issue of boundaries. Equally, we underline that no emerging state shall undermine the stability of an existing one.

We remain ready to mediate and support all parties in their efforts to resolve disputes.”

ENDS