5 December 2011 – The United Nations envoy for Somalia today strongly warned anyone trying to undermine an agreed framework outlining political actions required to restore peace and stability in the country that their actions will not be tolerated by the international community.
“The message is clear: the roadmap is the way forward and spoilers seeking to derail the process will not be tolerated,” said Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, in an letter addressed to all the people of Somalia.

The roadmap – adopted at a consultative meeting held in the country’s capital, Mogadishu, in September – spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August, in the areas of security, the drafting of a new constitution and reconciliation. It also seeks to lay the foundation for good governance, and calls for coordinated international efforts to ensure implementation.

“While the UN and the international community is offering whatever assistance it can, it is ultimately up to you the Somalis to determine whether or not the roadmap succeeds,” said Mr. Mahiga in his letter.

He said he believed that there is a “buy-in” into the roadmap for large numbers of the Somali population and their leadership, and cautioned against heeding those who believe that they will benefit more from maintaining the status quo in the Horn of Africa country.

“Political participation and engaged, constructive dissent is welcomed by UNPOS [UN Political Office for Somalia] and by the international community as a whole. But there is no place for those who work to unravel years of work advancing the cause of peace in Somalia.

“I believe we are all working towards the same ends – to make Somalia a safe, secure and prosperous country once more. The roadmap will not solve all of the problems, but it is a central part of the solution and I look to all of you to help make it work,” Mr. Mahiga added.

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UN

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