Importantly, we recognised the substantial effort already underway in ensuring a national conversation about the best electoral process for Somalia in 2016. We undertook to ensure that the discussion will continue through the National Consultative Forum and a decision, along with an articulated implementation plan will be presented in Istanbul next year.

This will require several complementary initiatives to also be completed: notably we will need to finish the process of state formation, and ensure that the Constitutional review continues apace.

We count on the support and full engagement of the Federal Parliament and existing and emerging states in this process.

There is still significant work remaining to complete key tasks and cement emerging activities in relation to security progress. Whilst solid progress has been made against security reforms communicated in September of this year, outstanding items remain. Chief of these is the articulating of our national security architecture. This is a non-negotiable. We must ensure a cohesive and national approach amongst our security institutions.

The process of registering and finalising electronic payment systems for our troops is on track. We count on this being finished before the end of 2015.

The international community commits to identifying swift and adequate resource provision to support activities contained in the endorsed Gulwaade and Xeegan plans. We will provide a substantive update on both these initiatives in Istanbul next year.

We cannot be distracted from freeing Somalia from the presence and influence of terrorist groups. We affirm the importance of building on stabilisation initiatives in newly-recovered areas and establishing local government and governance structures that link the centre to the peripheries, and give Somalis first hand experience of government in their neighbourhood. To ensure this happens in a consistent and cohesive manner the government recommends international program alignment with the Wadajir Framework, as developed by the Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs.

I would also like to draw urgent attention to Somalia’s humanitarian situation. With the arrival of El Nino, the situation will be more deeply impacted than ever before. We must act swiftly to support those affected. Somalia’s humanitarian crisis is one of the most protracted in the world. At the moment, we must consider what we need to do now to be able to cope and survive, but ideally, we must move from being reactive to being proactive. Building resilience will be key for Somalia in the future. This will help maximise the value of development assistance in Somalia dramatically.

In closing, I commend the work of the Compact Review Task Force and look forward to an identified process and guiding principles in place prior to Istanbul, that will maximise our opportunity to discuss wisely the shape and focus of post-2016 aid architecture.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The next six months must be head down. We must work together to achieve our intentions of an independent, self-sufficient, inclusive and equal Somalia, built on and proclaiming the principles of democracy.

As I said in opening, we once again thank Nick Kay for his service to Somalia and wish him well in whatever the future holds for him.
Thank you and good bye.