Expressing ‘grave concern' at the fragility of the security situation in Somalia, the United Nations Security Council has called for progress on the constitutional review process in the country, and for the completion of the Federal State formation process to be accelerated. In a press statement issued following a briefing to the Council earlier this week by the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Michael Keating, the Council underlined that a "peaceful, transparent and inclusive" electoral process in 2016 will mark a "historic step forward" for all Somalis, and will be fundamental for the country's continued progress towards democracy and stability. Expressing its full support for the Special Representative and the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the 15-member body recalled its expectation that there will be no extension of the electoral process timelines in Somalia, underlining the importance of good faith cooperation between federal and regional authorities in the country on these issues. The Council also commended President Mohamud and the Federal Government of Somalia for the political progress made in the country in the past four years, in particular the agreement on a model for the electoral process planned for August 2016, which it said should be a "stepping stone" to one-person-one-vote elections in 2020.
