QARDHO, Somalia (AXADLE) – On Saturday, Qardho City wrapped up its four-day brain-busting powwow, diving into Puntland’s path to democracy.
The bash took a bow with Abdirizak Ahmed Said, the Speaker of the Puntland House of Representatives, sealing the deal.
This gathering was a melting pot of heavy hitters like the Ministry of Interior, the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC), the Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC), Puntland Non-State Actors (PUNSAA), and a kaleidoscope of political parties, who were all aboard to chew over the highs and lows of Puntland’s democratic odyssey.
A snazzy roadmap and thoughtful suggestions emerged from the conference, marking a clear track towards the elections in 2029.
Featured in the spotlight, Interior Minister Abdi Farah Said tossed the spotlight on the essential task of reflecting on two and a half decades of progress since Puntland’s inception, sharing insights to fortify the democratic ship.
Hot topics simmered around weaving reconciliation into democratization to tackle electoral beefs and clan strife. The Puntland diaspora’s significance in buoying up decentralization and governance took center stage.
Back in July, Puntland scored a milestone by running its inaugural one-person, one-vote shindig across 26 districts—the turnout? Tons of youth snagged spots on local councils.
But hang tight, hurdles still loom in whipping the newly minted councils into shape and making sure they’re up to snuff.
Puntland’s eyes are on the prize with a gutsy target: parliamentary and presidential elections fueled by the one-person, one-vote mantra within five years. The hitch? Chaos still swirls in southern Somalia, throwing a wrench in the works.
