Somalia: Puntland State President Warns Predetermined ‘One-Person, One-Vote’ Poll Isn’t Democratic
AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni has denounced the federal government’s push for a one-person, one-vote election, arguing that a contest whose result is effectively decided in advance cannot meet democratic standards.
Weighing in on the national electoral process, Deni said a direct ballot holds little meaning if the winner and ruling party are widely assumed before voters head to the polls.
“I don’t see the point of saying a one-person, one-vote election will be held when everyone already knows who will win and which party will take power. That is not democracy,” Deni said.
He accused Mogadishu of fast-tracking the model while elevating preferred figures, rather than laying the groundwork for open competition that allows citizens to choose their leaders freely.
Deni added that Somalia still falls short of genuine political equity and raised doubts about whether the public would be able to vote in an election that is both free and credible.
He emphasized that the country cannot be ruled by force, warning that attempts to impose authority would fail.
“Nobody can govern Somalia through the barrel of a gun. The country can only be built through consultation, the rule of law, and the will of the people,” he said.
His comments come amid a deepening standoff between Puntland State and the federal government over the electoral framework and proposed constitutional changes—disputes that have sharpened political fault lines in recent months.
AXADLETM
