Vietnam urges parties to facilitate direct one-person one-vote elections in Somalia
New York (VNA) – Vietnam called on all involved
parties in Somalia to promote dialogues and create conditions for people and political
parties to participate in direct one-person one-vote elections, a Vietnamese diplomat told a UN Security Council teleconference on May 21.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of
Vietnam to the UN, voiced his concern over conflicts between Somalia’s Federal Government and regional states, particularly recent clashes in Jubbaland.
Quy condemned terrorist attacks in Somalia and urged the
international community and stakeholders to strengthen collective efforts
against al-Shabaab militant group to protect civilians, especially women and
children.
He said Vietnam supports operation of the African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as
well as the UN Working Group to help the African country maintain peace,
stability and development.
Addressing the event, James Swan, Special Representative of
the Secretary-General and UNSOM Head, said the COVID-19 is not only having the
medical and humanitarian effects but also a severe economic blow on Somalia.
Even before the pandemic, more than 5 million Somalis required humanitarian
assistance while the country is being badly hit by flooding and the worst
desert locust infestation in 25 years, he said.
The Government of Somalia projects an 11-percent decline in
nominal GDP for 2020, he noted.
This year, the country set to hold the first direct
elections since 1969, he continued. “The holding of peaceful, inclusive,
credible and transparent one-person-one-vote elections would be a historic step
in rebuilding Somalia and would assist with the country’s continued democratic
development.”
He expressed his concern over evolving al-Shabaab whose
terrorist operations continue unabated despite the COVID-19 outbreak, and urged
key international partners to continue support Somalia’s security sector in the
future.
He expected a commitment to dialogue and cooperation extend
to relations between the Somali Federal Government and all of the member sates
for the interests of the Somali people./.