Somalia’s Foreign Minister Calls on Opposition to Support Universal Suffrage Elections

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is on the brink of a momentous shift towards a more democratic future, but not everyone seems to be on the same page. On a sunlit Tuesday in Mogadishu, three prominent figures from Somalia’s political opposition gathered to voice their concerns. Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, MP Abdirahman Abdishakur, and Senator Prof. Abdi Ismail Samatar were up in arms over what they perceive as a bungled electoral process.

Enter Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, who approached their criticism like a seasoned debater tossing darts at a board. Aiming to dispel their apprehensions, Fiqi urged them to redirect their energy towards gearing up for the looming elections—a one-person, one-vote system set to change the game.

The debate exploded online when Fiqi took to Facebook, his virtual soapbox, where he was in no mood to mince words: “These seasoned political figures, sitting right in the Parliament, ratified those very elections they’re now critiquing with such zeal. The Independent Electoral Commission is poised to reveal the election timetable soon. Are their protests a bit hasty?”

He didn’t stop there, though. Fiqi flung accusations of inconsistency at the opposition leaders like confetti at a parade, pointing out a peculiar flip-flop in their political narrative. “Once upon a time,” he remarked with a hint of exasperation, “they accused the previous president of standing in the way of elections. Fast forward, and here they are, lambasting the current head of state for making good on one-person, one-vote elections—a system they’ve championed passionately for a long stretch. Such a zigzag approach betrays a ‘political disarray’—a merry-go-round where political positions sway with personal interests and circumstances.”

Fiqi cordially invited opposition parties to prepare for what’s next, as if inviting them to a political jamboree. “Let’s zero in on gearing up for the elections. This is our sole avenue. Dust off your party banners and let the games begin,” he declared with palpable determination.

Stepping into this already heated political theater is President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. With a promise in his back pocket as reassuring as an old friend’s handshake, he reaffirmed his administration’s pledge to hold these elections by the year 2026, touting it as an essential leap towards greater government transparency and inclusion. However, it’s an understatement to say cracking the nut of transitioning to a direct vote system has been a lingering challenge that has stumped successive leaders before him.

The country is poised on the precipice of a monumental shift towards universal suffrage, a turning point viewed by many as pivotal in its democratic trajectory. This ambitious transition represents a keen departure from the entrenched clan-based power-sharing dynamic, an arrangement that’s shaped Somalia’s political landscape since the overthrow of Siad Barre’s regime back in 1991. When the day finally dawns, Somali citizens will seize the opportunity to directly elect their president for the first time in over half a century.

November 2024 marked a significant stride forward when amendments to Somalia’s electoral framework were approved by Parliament, a red-letter day filled with promise. Now, eyes turn expectantly to the independent electoral commission, as the country eagerly awaits the election schedule, which is due to drop any day now.

In a nation where the political chessboard is constantly being rearranged, only time will tell if these newfound pledges and promises will carve out a future that’s fairer and truly representative. It’s a lofty ambition, but if Mohammed and Ahmed can have a friendly chat over coffee on this, then maybe, just maybe, the country can move gloriously forward, one jubilant vote at a time.

Report By Axadle