Somali PM releases final list of electoral commission members amid complaints
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The final list of those expected to serve in Somalia’s elections and dispute settlement committees has been released, despite complaints from some of the opposition leaders in the country, who called for close scrutiny of members.
The office of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has released the names of the officials of SEIT and FIET, whose main task is to organize elections in the country in the next month, in accordance with the May agreement, in which stakeholders agreed to hold indirect elections.
The list of officials who will take charge of the elections of the single regions of Banadir and North Western of Somaliais also published. The former is home to the capital Mogadishu while the latter claimed to have seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago after years of civil war.
State media claimed the list had been endorsed by presidential candidates, politicians, members of civil society and lawmakers, but did not provide any evidence to support these claims. None of the main presidential candidates have made a statement on the latest developments.
“Politicians, presidential candidates, lawmakers and civil society have welcomed the revised list of election commissions released by the Prime Minister’s office on Saturday. Prime Minister Rooble has previously pledged he is working to organize an election free and fair, ”read a tweet from state media. .
The release of the names comes just hours after presidential candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame questioned the removal of a Hawa Adan from the committee, arguing that she was being targeted for criticizing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
In addition, Abdishakur, who was later hosted by Axadleon Twitter, claimed that the committee still numbered more than 20 agents from the spy agency NISA and a host of Farmajo supporters. He called for their immediate withdrawal, adding that Roble should go for neutral individuals.
“Hawa Adan was removed from his election commission after being accused of opposing Farmajo. Around 20 Farmajo supporters and dozens of NISA agents remain on the commission. This will damage the credibility of the commission and the neutrality of Prime Minister Roble, ”he said. added.
Initially, the opposition submitted a list of 67 people accused of being NISA agents, Farmajo sycophants and / or officials. The ministerial-level committee chosen by Prime Minister Roble removed only 34 people from the list but did not explain the reinstatement of the remaining 33 people.
There is general anxiety in the country as the country rushes to exceed the election deadlines that have since been delayed by several months. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is keen to defend his seat and his attempts to extend his term have been rejected by opposition leaders.
AXADLETM
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