My government and I have already engaged on the process of writing a constitution in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Garowe, and Galkayo -- as well as with the Somali diaspora communities that are so vital for our future reconstruction, in Britain, Canada, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar, Sweden, and the United States. We will continue to build inclusiveness by traveling across Somalia, listening to what our fellow Somalis have to say about the constitution. From women to youth groups, from the business community to traditional leaders and cultural figures -- all will have their say in the new Somalia. We will leave no stone unturned to make this constitutional process the most inclusive yet. Only then will the document we produce have the legitimacy that previous processes lacked.
At the same time, our institutions are being restructured to make them fit for purpose. Parliament will be reduced from 550 members to 225, newly selected by traditional Somali leaders, a key part of our commitment to responsible and representative government. This is just one of the ways in which we are tackling the issue of corruption head-on. International donors need to see we are credible and transparent partners in order to be able to give us the support so necessary for our recovery from the abyss. In August, the transitional government will come to an end and a new president will be elected, presiding over a state with a new parliament and a new constitution.
Reconciliation and a fairer sense of justice and governance will be the order of the day in the newly liberated parts of the country. We are only too conscious of the dangers of leaving a vacuum in the increasing number of areas from which al-Shabab has been ousted. Working with local communities, we will be establishing civil administrations, peace committees, and promoting social reconciliation. Of course, the state must strive to contain and remove heavy weaponry from al-Shabaab and move as quickly as we can to disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants. Above all, we will be need to be flexible in what we do. No one is seeking to impose a one-size-fits-all solution in what are very different regions of Somalia. The point is: We are prepared. We have the mechanisms to end this transition.
Where al-Shabab recently refused to allow humanitarian activity and food distribution in the areas it controlled during the famine of last year, we welcome the partnership of the international agencies in assisting the populations that have suffered so terribly under its draconian regime. We will also need help from our friends in AMISOM and the wider international community in providing basic services to these communities. We must show them -- and quickly -- the benefits of stable and inclusive government or risk spoilers moving in to exploit the absence of authority.
There is no doubt that we face formidable challenges between now and August. We know from yesterday's horrific events that people are out to wreck the opportunity for peace. In the past, Somali politicians have been guilty of fracturing -- just at the moment when citizens expect and hope for the greatest leadership. Inevitably, some political factions will sow disunity. They must not prevail. We know only too well where that leads. Somali leaders must come together, and stay together, at the local, regional, and national levels to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. At the same time, we need to be realistic that progress will be incremental.
Much of the progress we have made during the past seven months has only been made possible by the support of the United Nations, AMISOM, and our international partners. As we move into the critical period that ends Somalia's transitional government, we acknowledge this assistance with grateful thanks and call on our friends to stand by us in this hour of need. Only by working together can we move forward and close one of the most catastrophic chapters in our nation's history. But with their help and our will, we can achieve this historic aims. There is not a moment to lose.
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