Somalia: Farmajo dragged into disputes over North Western of Somaliaelectoral committee
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is once again on the spot for the current stalemate between Somaliland’s senior leaders and the federal government, following differences in the appointment of members of the electoral committee.
With just 14 days to go before the start of elections in the Horn of Africa nation, a breakaway region North Western of Somaliahas yet to choose which team will hold the elections. The region has been allocated 11 places in FIET, but leaders have yet to agree on who to take over.
Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi, who is one of Somaliland’s most senior politicians in the federal government, now accuses Farmajo, whose term expired on February 8, of meddling in the formation of the elections committee for the region.
According to him, a number of people who were chosen to serve as members of the North Western of Somaliaelections committee have been handpicked by Farmajo, who is keen to “manipulate” the elections in his favor.
“The members of the Election Commission for North Western of Somaliahave been handpicked by Farmaajo and they are all his supporters. We will not tolerate this one-sided team to lead the election of deputies from the north,” the speaker noted.
Villa Somalia has yet to respond to the latest allegations, but throughout the election period the presidency has been accused of meddling in all five of Somalia’s states. Jubaland and Northeastern State have also raised similar complaints in the recent past.
The faction led by Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid appointed Khadar Harir Hussein chairman of the electoral commission on Saturday and will be replaced by Najib Hussein Samale. Hussein was previously an employee of Villa Somalia and now a senior official of the National Agency for Refugees.
But a few hours later, the other faction led by Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi held a side meeting and appointed Suleiman Aideed Osman chairman and Abdishakur Abib Hayir deputy. This almost led to the collapse of elections in the region.
North Western of Somaliahas 11 members in FIET unlike other parts of the country. Three were appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office while the Hashi and Guled sides are made up of four members each.
Abdi Samatar, a seasoned scholar and a close ally of Hashi, said the two sides differed over the composition of FIET and the polling center. The Mahdi side, which has the backing of Villa Somalia, “wants the elections to take place at the Mogadishu police academy while we want them to take place at the Airforce hangar in Afisioni,” Samatar said. .
The differences risk dragging out the next elections, which begin on July 25 with the election of senators, while that of deputies will take place from August 10 to September 10. Following the legislative elections, Somalia will hold presidential elections on October 10.
AXADLETM
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