Hiiraan Online
Friday, September 23, 2016
UN SRSG Michael Keating meeting with Somali-Canadians at Les Suites Hotel in Ottawa, Canada. (HOL Photo/ Dalmar Gure)
Ottawa (HOL) - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary –General for Somalia, Michael Keating met Somali-Canadians at Les Suites Hotel in Ottawa on Thursday. The meeting was to gauge diaspora opinion of UN and Somali government policies.
Mr. Keating had been in Canada to meet with senior Canadian government officials about issues pertaining to Somalia. He briefly met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion in New York during the General Assembly. He told the Somali diaspora group “I’m going to make a lot of noise” on behalf of Somali’s during his meetings in Canada.
“We need Canada in Somalia, we need the diaspora in Somalia”
- Michael Keating message to Somali-Canadians in Ottawa
Diaspora involvement in forging official UN policy in Somalia is something that has not been given much consideration with previous SRSG’s. The meeting with Ottawa’s Somali community is seen a welcomed first step in a wider plan to engage Somali diaspora who make up as much of 20% of the total Somali population. Mr. Keating said that the diaspora living in developed countries like Canada offer a unique insight in tackling issues facing Somalia; he noted capacity building and taxation as some of those areas.
Talks about security and the forthcoming elections in Somalia dominated the intimate town-hall style meeting as Mr. Keating explained that security in Somalia goes beyond armoured tanks and weaponry.
“Security in Somalia is ensuring all people are safe regardless of tribe … that they enjoy their rights, not simply just tanks and guys with guns.”
He also said that justice, and accountability also falls under the security umbrella.
The SRSG said “Somalia is now pulling itself together, rather than pulling itself apart” as the nation focuses on developing and rebuilding state institutions it must tackle what he called a “good set of problems”. He noted other nations aren’t as fortunate as civil war and turmoil rages on in Yemen, South Sudan, Libya and Ethiopia.
Many of those who attended the event were keen on hearing about the developments with upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. The SRSG went over the 2016 election model as some wanted to know why one person, one vote could not be implemented.
His response was that it simply was not feasible. The institutions that would accommodate direct voting are not in place to ensure a free and fair election.
Keating also elaborated on the improvements made since the 2012 election. Among the most popular amendment being the quota set for women in Somali politics. 30% of the total parliamentary seats have been allocated to women candidates as well as reserving 50% of the total candidacy for the upper house.
Keating stressed that Somali women be involved in the political process saying that “women is good for politics; and politics is good for women”. He said that “Somalia must also want Somali women to be involved”.