Somalia Justifies Extending Term of Regional Leaders as Crucial for Election Overhaul
Mogadishu (AX) — Imagine a bustling city square in Mogadishu, where purposeful steps echo on the pavement, and the air is charged with political ambitions tinged with skepticism. Somalia’s federal government finds itself in an ideological whirlpool, debating the merits and pitfalls of extending regional state leaders’ terms. This move, they argue, is a deliberate gambit toward transforming Somalia’s electoral landscape into a “one person, one vote” democracy—a tantalizing prospect for many but fraught with complexities and suspicions.
Enter Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, a man whose every word might as well be weighed in gold, such is the scrutiny he faces. Fresh from a National Consultative Council meeting, Jama unveiled the bold strategy to sync Somalia’s fractured political timetable. Why negotiate such delicate waters now? “This extension,” Jama explained to a roomful of reporters in Mogadishu, “is imperative to extricate ourselves from the tangle of clan-based politics that has held sway for over seven years.” Picture citizens finally standing in line to cast a vote, not looking over shoulders but proudly choosing leaders ranging from local district officials to federal governors.
A national electoral commission is the linchpin of this ambitious trajectory, with its officials crisscrossing Somalia’s diverse regions. Picture them setting up camp in remote districts, engaging local stakeholders, and weaving together strands of logistical complexity. But can this intricate dance lead to an electoral symphony by June 2025, the targeted date for local council elections?
Yet, the road is strewn with skepticism. Critics, especially vocal opposition figures, liken the plan to dressing old wounds with a veneer of democratic sheen. “Opacity,” they claim, is deeply embedded in the process, sparking fears of consolidating power rather than dispersing it. Could this be an inadvertent masterstroke to tighten the administration’s grip?
More hurdles remain in this marathon towards electoral reform. Security casts a long shadow over the proceedings. Al-Shabaab, an ominous specter, lurks in rural sanctuaries, launching attacks that serve as a grim reminder of the fragility underscoring everyday lives. How can a nation on such tenterhooks promise safe and unimpeded voting across its length and breadth?
Historically, Somalia has operated a political model as intricate as a spider’s web—clan elders picking parliamentarians who then choose the president. The 4.5 model, while pragmatic for post-conflict representation, shackles broader political participation and has critics labeling it a vessel of endemic corruption. As history has shown, transitioning to universal suffrage isn’t merely a legislative exercise; it’s a consequential upheaval of entrenched norms.
Attempts in the past have shouldered similar optimism, notably in 2020, only to be thwarted by political discord and security quagmires. Yet, storm clouds may still part, as all eyes turn to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected under this very indirect system in May 2022 for a presumed four-year term. Mohamud staunchly champions the universal voting shift as his term’s cornerstone and is weighing the possibility of extending presidential terms to a five-year cadence. This legislative tweak, albeit needing ratification, teases the realm of possibilities.
In the government’s eyes, the blueprint for a more inclusive Somalia is crystal clear; they envision a political tapestry where transparency and representation stand at the forefront. But trepidations loom—a negotiation dance with opposition parties seems paramount. Jama, embodying a dual edge of resolve and caution, calls for “opportunity,” a chance to sculpt lasting reform, reminding skeptics, “We have a clear roadmap; hesitation risks it all.”
Through a gaze tinted with both hopeful anticipation and realist reservations, Somalia’s political horizon gleams with potential as it navigates this transformative epoch. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, amid all the plans and promises: what kind of legacy will prevail—a nation evolved in democratic maturation or one ensnared in the geometry of its ambitions?
Edited By Ali Musa Axadle Times International–Monitoring
