Photo/ Somali Times
The law which has been rejected by both Puntland and Jubaland provides for a winner-takes- all formula otherwise known as the First-Past-the Post which is used in Somaliland and neighbouring Kenya.
The model which overturned the Proportional Representation (PR) proposed in the initial Bill by the poll body, NIEC arrived at by an ad-hoc Elections Bill parliamentary committee following public consultations with all the Federal Member States. Both the Lower and Upper Houses adopted the model throwing out the PR system proposed by the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC).
The law envisages a one-person-one vote denying elders and select individuals the power to decide the country’s leadership as they have before. However, the practicality of a universal vote by October is questionable given the extremely short timeframe against incredibly huge logistical issues.
AL-SHABAAB TAXATION
The traders said they were forced to speak about their experiences because they feel countries were unbothered of government infiltration in Somalia. Yet the claims of the al-Shabaab taking over government roles were first reported by the VOA last year. But a UN Panel of Experts on Somalia revealed the militant group is now relying less on charcoal exports and focusing on “mafia-style taxation” at the port in Mogadishu as well as markets.
“The group also continues to take advantage of virtually unregulated mobile money and domestic banking services to collect and transfer revenues throughout the country,” the panel noted in a November report. Those networks often operate through trade associations or government departments. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities dissolved a local trade union twice over “poor governance”. Yet, recently, Somalia had to dissolve a board for the local Chamber of Commerce after it emerged the Shabaab had “representatives” there.
Security remains one of the key obstacles to realizing a one-person-vote goal, in addition to the preparatory work which include drawing up of boundaries and establishing the mechanism for participation of political parties all of which currently hold interim registration certificates. Key also will be the amendment of the Political Parties Act to provide the framework for the participation of political parties.
CORRUPTION
Somalia’s corruption is leading President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Prime Minster Hassan Ali Khaire , Financial Minster Abdirahman Duale Beyle and the Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad. They are the top leaders who stole billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey , and the USA. Saudi Arabia and Qatar aid budget is cash. According to Finance Minister, sources told the Somali Times that the Somali Government’s corruption is normal.