Somalia’s new conflicts and challenges could delay the elections

File Photo/Somali Times




Somalia’s elections have been marred by new challenges after the northern regional electoral commission split into two, led by Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guled and Speaker of the Upper House Abdi Hashi.

Mahdi Guled and Abdi Hashi Abdullahi’s parties have both announced that they have held elections for the chairman and deputy chairman. This has already been described by many as a new controversy.

The dispute between the northern regional election commissions could affect the agreement reached on the election as one of the current issues was controversial.

“This dispute could affect the election agreement and cause serious damage. If the election is to be fair, the previous agreement must be protected.”

The deputy prime minister Mahdi Guled said in a statement that members of the Somaliland bicameral board have elected a new chairman and Khadar Harir Hussein has been elected chairman.




A statement from the office of the Speaker of the Upper House said: “The list from the deputy prime minister’s office is one-sided and unfair. They called for the expulsion of some members as they were accused of being members of the civil service and the army.

“The issue of the north is the issue at hand now and the only group that wants to win or take a side is the northern group and their seats and now it does not look like anyone has it. They will balance the outcome,

“It is in the best interest of the Somali people to reconcile the north with what has already been agreed.”

The electoral commissions has a big influence on the outcome and therefore everyone has to compete on their side.

“The chairman of this group and the election commissions will have a big impact on how some of the results can be distorted but it will have an effect on who will be the chairman of the electoral commissions.”

“The challenge is not with the individual but with the burden and burden of the office of the individual who will be the chairman. There have been a number of recent efforts to resolve a dispute over the selection of northern members between Mahdi Guled and Speaker of the Upper House Abdi Hashi, which were both appointed by the commission and appeared to have been resolved. This new controversy seems to be on the rise.