Native Somaliland politicians and traditional elders have decided to boycott the ongoing Somalia’s electoral process, including the parliamentary and presidential election that was earlier extended to November 30.
Existing and emerging Federal states were expected to announce the Upper House candidates before October 10, an extended deadline by Somalia’s electoral body.
In a major blow to the electoral process, in a meeting held in Mogadishu, clan elders and Somali government officials whose term ended in September 10, including Deputy Prime Minister and Federal parliamentarians, have denounced seats quota of both Federal Parliament Houses for Somaliland region, describing it ‘unfair’ and undermine efforts aimed to unite the country.
Federal MP, Ibrahim Saleban, said that they will not participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, arguing that seats allocated for Somaliland don’t match its status and difference over quota composition.
Meanwhile, the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation team (FIEIT) has urged National Leadership Forum to swiftly intervene to ease the crisis and avoid further setbacks to the electoral process.
At a press conference FIEIT Chairman Omar Mohamed Dhagay, said that a special consideration should be taken for Somaliland clans. Also, Federal MP and Somaliland native Fawziya Haji Adan, in an interview, said that she will boycott the parliamentary elections. Ms Adan is a former Federal Foreign Minister and a close ally to caretaker President Hasan Sheikh Mahmoud.
Close sources told the media that plans to orchestrate setbacks to the electoral process have been set by Somali Federal leaders to further delay elections and extend office term to leverage their presidential campaigns.
The lingering process to form the Upper House chamber could undermine the electoral process and plunge the country into political crisis.
In a related development the FIEIT has returned the list of candidates for the Upper House, passed earlier by regional states, after announcing that some of the lists don’t correspond with previous agreements by Somali leaders on the election roadmap.
Puntland, Galmudug and Jubaland were called to amend their list of candidates in accordance to National Leadership Forum (NLF) communiqués to grant women 30-percenet quota.
On the other hand, FIEIT has commended Somalia’s Southwest state for reserving women quota in their list of candidates.
The decision comes following raised concerns by UN and women’s group on the failure of state leaders to honor previous agreement intended to ensure women participation in the ongoing electoral process.
