His Excellency Mohamoud Hassan Suleiman, Somali Finance Minister, today said the New Deal would be responding to the Somali people’s priorities as consultations got underway in Mogadishu.
“Today I congratulate the Somali government New Deal team under Deputy Minister of Planning Abukar Sheikh Abdi Ibrahim for kicking off public consultations. The New Deal needs to earn public confidence and what better way than to put the people at the heart of the process,” the minister said. “Today we are speaking to civil society organizations, women’s groups, elders, religious leaders and other groups in Mogadishu to listen to their perspectives. Then we will be going to Baidoa and Garowe. Everywhere we go we will listen to the people’s priorities that will determine government and international donor policies.”
The two-day consultations began today with discussions on the five Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals of security, legitimate politics, justice, economic foundations and public services and revenue management. Sessions were also held analysing the causes of conflict, together with discussion about the sources of peace and stability.
Those attending Somalia’s first New Deal consultations said it was a very positive start, taking public policy to the grass roots.
Maryam Takhal of the Somali Women Development Centre said: “The most important thing for us is civic education and education for children. Another top priority is social services. It is a disgrace that women in Somalia die giving birth. Access to justice is another area we need to improve dramatically. As Somalis we need to take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror and adjust our behavior in many ways – from corruption to clannish politics – otherwise whatever the international community does in Somalia will be wasted.”
ENDS
Ahmed Adan
Prime Minister’s Media Office
Mogadishu, Somalia
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