Un Welcomes Somalia'S Approval Of New Constitution

[News_Editor]

UN welcomes Somalia's approval of new constitution < br />

2012-08-03 01:26:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Thursday welcomed the historic approval of Somalia's new constitution, which had been repeatedly delayed by political instability and constant violence in the African country.

The text for the document was approved by 621 delegates, with 13 votes against and 11 abstentions. The National Constituent Assembly's (NCA) meeting in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, made up in total of 825 delegates drawn from all Somali clans, had spent eight days on deliberations.

The UN said the constitution is a key part of Somalia's ongoing peace and national reconciliation process as it will provide a legal framework governing the workings of the new Somali Federal Institutions as of August 20.

Somalia's Transitional Federal Institutions is currently implementing the so-called Roadmap for the End of Transition in Somalia, which was devised in September 2011, and spells out priority measures to be carried out before the current transitional governing arrangements end later this month.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption, according to his spokesman, Martin Nesirky, who spoke to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. "He (Ban) congratulates the delegates and the Somali leadership for this historic achievement and their commitment to ending the transition and to establishing new, representative political institutions in the country," Nesirky said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), Augustine Mahiga, described the approval as a 'day of celebration.' "The adoption of the Provisional Constitution is an historic achievement as it completes one of the most important milestones towards ending the current transitional period and ushering in a new political future," Mahiga said.

The voting took place despite suicide attacks on the NCA's meeting venue earlier on Wednesday morning. According to media reports, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of the venue, and the attack follows a series of other explosions in the capital, including roadside bombs and grenade attacks.

Until last year, most of Mogadishu was, for several years, riven by a fluid frontline dividing the two sides – fighters belonging to the Al Shabaab militant group and troops belonging to the Somalia Government, with the latter supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Since Al Shabaab's withdrawal from the capital in August 2011, the frontlines have been pushed back to the city's surrounding area. However, the use of roadside bombs, grenades and suicide bombers still takes place. In addition, Government forces have been on an offensive against the Al Shabaab, which still controls parts of Somalia, primarily in its south-central regions.

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