African Union (AU) has appointed, John Dramani Mahama, the former Ghanaian president, as the AU High Representative for Somalia to negotiate and resolve the political crisis in that country.
As the High Representative for Somalia’s political track, President Mahama will work with the Somali stakeholders, to reach a mutually acceptable compromise towards an all-encompassing resolution for the holding of Somali elections in the shortest possible time. In fulfilling his mandate, the High Representative will be supported by AMISOM, to ensure that the mediation efforts and the peace support operation work together seamlessly.
What is AMISOM? AMISOM is the African Union`s Mission in Somalia, created by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council on 19 January 2007 with an initial six-month mandate. On 21 February 2007 the United Nations Security Council approved the mission’s mandate. Subsequent six-monthly renewals of AMISOM’s mandate by the African Union Peace and Security Council have also been authorised by the United Nations Security Council
The Chairperson of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, calls on the Somali stakeholders to negotiate in good faith, and to put the interests of Somalia and the well-being of the Somali people above all else in the search for an inclusive settlement to the electoral crisis.
Mr Mahamat stressed that this should usher in a democratically elected government with the legitimacy and mandate to resolve the remaining outstanding political and constitutional issues that are posing a threat to the stability of the country and the region as a whole.
The Chairperson of the Commission also encourages all the Somali stakeholders and the international community to extend every support to the High Representative, who will arrive the country in the coming days.