#constitutio

"The adoption of the Provisional Constitution is an historic achievement as it completes one of the most important milestones towards ending the current transitional period and ushering in a new political future," Mahiga said in a statement issued after the vote to adopt the country top legal document. The African Union peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) which has more than 18,000 troops deployed in the country and is mandated by the UN to protect the Somali government, also welcomed the endorsing of the constitution and congratulated Somalis on "major step forward on the road to national recovery". "The adoption of a Provisional Constitution by a National Constituent Assembly, representative of the people of Somalia, will protect the gains made and provide a legal foundation for Somalia's new institutions," Boubacar Diarra, special representative of AU Commission for Somalia, said in a statement."Today is the culmination of years of hard work by the Somali people with the support of the International community," Diarra added. Diara urged for the steps in the political process, such as the selection of the upcoming Members of Parliament, the subsequent election by the new legislature of its speaker and deputies as well as the new President, "be conducted in a fair and credible manner".

Ordinary Somalis expressed hope the new constitution, which offers more fundamental rights and protection than the country's previous fundamental legal documents, will herald new era of peace and stability in war-tired Somalia. "I think the fact that the constitution was adopted in Mogadishu is something important in itself but what is more significant is that the constitution gives us more rights and protection than many countries' constitution," Raaho Daahir, a businesswoman in Mogadishu said. But some have also raised objections to parts of the constitution which they said goes against the teaching of Islam including the provision of the right to hold elected positions to women, the banning of all forms of female circumcision and the right of abortion for women. Others have qualms with the highly devolved federal system and the loose division of power between federal and regional governments.