Somalia’s Temporary Election Panel Chooses Leaders to Shape 2026 Voting Guidelines
Mogadishu (AX) — In the bustling city of Mogadishu, the interim committee established by the Somali parliament to formulate electoral laws and draft the framework for upcoming elections has taken a significant step. The committee has chosen Mahdi Guled, a former Deputy Prime Minister and seasoned MP, to be its chairman. Senator Iftin Hassan Iman Baasto stands by his side as the newly elected deputy chairman.
On a bustling Saturday, this selection process unfolded within the walls of Villa Hargeisa. The meeting had the valuable presence of Abdullahi Omar Abhirow, the second deputy chairman of the Somali People’s Assembly, who witnessed the proceedings with a keen eye.
The committee, entrusted with the pivotal task of laying down the rules for elections and shepherding the creation of an electoral body, isn’t short of controversy. Voices rising from the parliamentary corridors, like that of MP Abdirahman Abdi Shakur, have sounded alarms, branding the committee’s birth as a constitutional faux pas. Shakur loudly proclaims that this maneuver doesn’t align with the tenets of Somalia’s transitional government framework.
This move gains ground in the wake of the National Consultative Council’s (NCC) recent deal, a joint endeavor signed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and regional powerhouses. According to the NCC’s blueprint, local, regional, and municipal elections are earmarked for June 2025. Keeping in sync, the grand parliamentary and presidential contests are lined up for September 2025. Furthermore, the council has laid down the cornerstone for forming a National Independent Electoral Commission, charged with the monumental task of steering the electoral ship through uncharted waters.
These moments are wrapped in the larger tapestry of Somalia’s tumultuous political landscape. Even the mere existence of a committee like this sparks animated discussions, reflecting the bubbling tensions and hopes for a more democratically anchored government.
Every decision pulsates with urgency, hinting at the unavoidable challenges that lie ahead. The path is rocky, riddled with hurdles that the nation must navigate in its quest for stability and peace. The recent appointments are not just mere names on paper but represent a glimpse of how the political arena in Somalia is ever-evolving — an intricate dance of power, visions, and sometimes, confrontations.
The critiques, though loud and weighty, cast a shadow over the committee’s ambitious goals. Yet, they also lay bare the raw passion and deep-seated desire for constitutional fidelity amidst a rapidly changing socio-political scene. Change, albeit challenging, is knocking at Somalia’s door, carried forward by those who dare to engage with the chaotic and often unpredictable currents of governance.
As the clock ticks toward the ambitious electoral targets outlined for 2025, Somalia stands at a crossroads. The emergence of this committee marks just one of the many steps on its journey toward what many hope will be a more robust democratic process. In the coming days and months, scrutinizing and supporting these strides will indeed be crucial. And in observing these efforts, one might almost say, quoting an age-old Somali proverb, “He who does not seize opportunity today, will be unable to seize tomorrow.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
