The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Friday hailed the Somali people on the calm and orderly conduct of the municipal elections held in Mogadishu.
Thursday’s exercise, the first such election since 1969 which passed off peacefully is seen as a test for future polls in a country beleaguered by instability since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991.
Residents of Somalia’s capital began casting ballots in local council elections, marking the first time in more than 50 years that voters directly chose their representatives, a milestone overshadowed by opposition boycotts.
Polling stations across Mogadishu opened at 6am local time (03:00 GMT) on Thursday, with lines forming early as Somalis queued to participate in what President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called a “new chapter in the country’s history”.
In a statement issued on Friday, Youssouf said the holding of the elections constitutes an important initial step in Somalia’s ongoing efforts to advance democratic governance across the horn African country which has been riven with an Islamist insurgency since 2006.
The chairperson underscored that electoral processes at the municipal level contribute to the strengthening of participatory governance and offer valuable experience as Somalia advances its nationally led political and electoral trajectory.
The chairperson has encouraged all Somali political stakeholders to continue engaging in constructive dialogue and inclusive consultation, in a manner that supports national unity, and long-term stability.
Youssouf reaffirmed the African Union’s continued engagement in accompanying the Somali people in their efforts to strengthen inclusive governance and advance lasting peace and stability.
MG/as/APA