JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN THE FORUM FOR UNITY AND DEMOCRACY ( FUD ) AND THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION ( NDC)

Whereas THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION (NDC) is also a forum and
political umbrella for various political groups and parliamentary
caucuses, representing the Somali political spectrum.
Whereas the FUD and NDC having discussed the political, security, and
economic situation and the issues facing the country,have become
convinced that Somalia is going on a perilous course at this critical
time and accordingly make the following statement:
Acknowledge the principles contained in Vision 2016 and the New Deal
Compact in which the government committed to a set of important
political, constitutional, security and economic milestones and
related reforms so as to create a conducive environment for fair and
free elections in the fall of 2016;
Concerned that the current leadership in Somalia has utterly failed to
advance the objects of the Provisional Constitution, the principles
contained in Vision 2016, a document which the government
single-handedly developed and committed to in September 2013, and also
the major commitments it entered into under the New Deal Compact
document; whereas, these objects, principles, and commitments were
meant to enable the country to go through important political,
constitutional, security and economic milestones, and complete the
consequent reforms necessary in these sectors, and usher in a stable
environment for fair and free elections in the fall of 2016. Whereas,
the implementation process of Vision 2016 has become a monopoly and a
tool for power grabbing and an illegal extension by the President. As
such, the process has lost the trust of the political stakeholders and
the Somali public;
Alarmed by the outright manipulation of the selection process of the
constitutionally mandated commissions and the compromising of their
independence and integrity and the failure to consult with regional
states and national stakeholders as required by the Provisional
Constitution;
Assert and inform the Somali public that the newly formed sham
National Electoral Commission, the equally sham commissions such as
the Boundaries and Federations Commission, the Judicial Service
Commission and the 5 member Constitutional Implementation Commission
are all constituted in an illegal and unconstitutional manner and are
therefore illegal. These Commissions were not designed to advance the
interests of the Somali public, such interests as peace, democracy,
justice and equality, but were cynically formed to serve as vehicles
for corruption, injustice and vote rigging;
Concerned by the failure of the national leadership to engage in
genuine political outreach, consultations, and political
reconciliation with the regional states and with the national
political stakeholders and civil society;
Convinced that the President has failed to safeguard the national
unity of the country and the harmony of the Somali people as was
mandated to him as President by the Provisional Constitution;
Condemn the President’s continuing dictatorial behavior,
unconstitutional exercise of power and interference with the national
institutions such as the Parliament, Judiciary, and the Executive. The
president has usurped Executive authority and wrestled it repeatedly
from successive Prime Ministers when Article 97 of the Provisional
Constitution clearly stipulates that Executive authority of the
government is vested in the Council of Ministers. The result has been
the endless infighting between the President and Prime Ministers in
the past three years, an infighting that has caused political gridlock
and inertia in government business;
Affirm that the process of regional state formation has been
compromised by the vested political interests of the leadership, a
lack of transparency and the absence of a meaningful and genuine
reconciliation process. This flawed process has created inter and
intra-community conflicts within and between the regional states,
placing the spirit of the Federation at risk;
Underline the fact that the President has failed to foster political
inclusivity that is stipulated in Vision 2016 and the New Deal
documents; as some dimensions of PSG1 of the New Deal Compact
specifically emphasize political inclusivity, political outreach and
political reconciliation with the regional states;
Alarmed by the rampant and institutionalized corruption of public
resources by state leaders ranging from outright siphoning of money
from the treasury as well as from other outlets, illegally auctioning
off public lands and signing of international contracts without proper
procurement processes and procedures;
Deplore the government violations of human rights principles
safeguarded in our Provisional Constitution, as there is irrefutable
evidence of arbitrary arrest of civilians and media workers, trial of
civilians in military courts, and the execution of some of these
civilians tried in military courts. The leadership has engaged in
conducts of intimidation in order suppress opposition, free media and
curtail freedom of expression;
CONSIDERING THE ABOVE AND CONSCIOUS OF THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO
RESCUE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY
Now, THEREFORE,
THE FUD AND NDC are of the view that the country is heading in a
perilous direction due to the failure of the current leadership which
has failed to advance the objectives of the Provisional Constitution,
further national unity and harmony, and implement the critical
national agenda envisioned under the Vision 2016 document. Because of
the urgency of the matters mentioned above, FUD and NDC:
Call for a concerted and renewed political engagement by all Somali
political stakeholders including those from the federal government and
regional states, political parties/fora and the civil society in order
to unite and act on a common platform to collectively address the
impending political crisis;
Call for all stakeholders to convene a National Political Dialogue
(NPD) within a short period of time in a venue acceptable to the
various segments of the political and civil spectrum. The NPD shall
deliberate on the way forward for the national political agenda
leading to an accountable, responsible and democratically elected
governance;
Call for the international partners to support an inclusive political
dialogue driven by the Somalis that aims to come up with fresh,
re-focused and re-prioritized approach to the Vision 2016 exit
strategy, that is credible and practical;
END