The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia (SRSG), Dr Augustine P. Mahiga, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra and the IGAD Facilitator For Somalia Peace and National Reconciliation, Hon Kipruto Arap Kirwa have stated that that the current divisions between the leadership of Somalia's Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) are unhelpful and potentially very damaging.

The statement follows the visit by the three envoys to Mogadishu on 9 September during which they held discussions with President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.

"Many members of the international community have worked tirelessly to support the current administration and we know they join us in calling for the leadership of the TFIs to remain cohesive and focused on security and transitional tasks at such a critical time," the three officials said.

SRSG Mahiga, SRCC Diarra and Hon Kirwa pointed out that the transition period is due to end in August 2011, giving the current Government less than a year to carry out the remaining priority tasks.

"It is important that the present arrangement among the TFIs be maintained. The end of the transition period will give Somalis the opportunity to determine a new political dispensation, but there is much work to be done before then," they said. "There is no time to waste."

The envoys also renewed their call for internal cohesion as a necessary step for peace and stability in Somalia to alleviate the suffering of the Somali people.

They stressed that those who stood to gain the most from the current divisions were the extremists who were fighting to take control of the country.
"The Somali forces and the African Union peacekeeping troops of AMISOM risk their lives each day to protect the TFIs and defend the integrity of the peace process," they said. "The leaders and politicians need to demonstrate their unity of purpose to show they are working together to restore peace to Somalia."