Photo/Somali Times
Somalia’s elections are facing new challenges day by day, but if Farmajo has repeatedly been accused of destabilizing the elections which he wants to stay in office without the elections, he is now stuck with Somali regional administration leaders.
As Somali Times has learned, a fierce rivalry based on greed and political interests among the country’s regional leaders, precludes the election being completed by 2021.
Regional leaders and Prime Minister Mohamed Roble are expected to meet in Mogadishu on Saturday after a meeting scheduled for the 19th of this month called for the prime minister’s absence from the country.
According to our sources, the meeting will focus on key issues:
Parliamentary Election Procedures: State leaders are keen to develop an electoral system that gives them more power, in order to make the parliamentary elections similar to those of the Upper House, with full decision-making-who will be a senator and who will not. Understanding the plans of the regional leaders, the Electoral Commission issued an election manifesto two days before the adjourned meeting on the 19th of this month.
The main contention is; who has the power to select the delegates to elect the councilor. Regional leaders want to play a role in selecting delegates, while tribal elders, the electoral commission, the union of candidates and outgoing President Mohamed Farmajo wants tribal independence.
The Upper House elections has become a public outcry over alleged corruption, with no elections being held, but regional leaders selecting friends, relatives and political allies. To prevent this, the Federal Election Commission has issued the election process, to limit the power of the state, but the Head of State now wants to change this.
Members near Ahmed and Said Deni argue that a federal commission are most dependent on the president to resign, this is why they want to give regional governments more power to prevent Villa Somalia to rigged the election of the House of the People.
Constituency: There are still attempts to limit the constituency to one city. The plan, which has been tried several times but failed, is once again on the table. Most regional administration leaders want the constituency to be one city, especially Ahmed Madobe, Ali Gudlawe and Said Deni.
Ahmed Madobe and Ali Gudlawe have no support for their administrations in Hiran and Gedo, and are opposed by some clans in those regions, as well as the presence of opposing military forces in those regions, making it difficult for them to hold elections in Garbaharey and Beledweyne.
Said Deni, it is not difficult to hold elections in Bosaso and Garowe, but he is interested in his friend Ahmed Madobe. Meanwhile, the plan is strongly opposed by Galmudug President Qoor Qoor, who insists the election agreement should not be changed.
It is not clear why Qoor Qoor is attached to two towns, but it is believed to be pushing back Villa Somalia. If no elections are held in Garbaharey, Farmajo will lose control of the 16-member parliament.
The position of Abdiaziz Lafta-Gareen, who once supported a single constituency due to security concerns in Barawe, remains unclear, but he is now said to be facing pressure from Villa Somalia. These factors, if not addressed, could further delay Somalia’s electoral process.