Presidential debate looms in Somalia ahead of titanic elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Top presidential flag bearers may, after all, battle out in a debate before the much-anticipated elections, a senator said, arguing that it's through such discussions that electors will pick the person with clear agenda that can take the country to the next level.

The country is expected to enter the crucial electioneering period in this year before MPs choose from the litany of candidates a president in line with the recently signed electoral deal. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and a host of five Federal States leaders entered a pre-election pact a fortnight ago.

Under the deal, 101 delegates will pick each MP in the upcoming 11th parliament when the country's current administration's tenure lapses before a president is picked to lead the country for the next four years. Farmajo showed that he's ready to run for a second time in office. 

Contrary to initial expectations, a joint FGS-FMS election body will supervise the elections instead of the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC]. But the deal did not get a better node from the international partners, who fund most of Somalia's internal processes due to years of civil war.

And Senator Ilyas Ali Hassan of Himilo Qaran party which is one of the six parties making the Forum for National Parties alliance, said their candidate, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a former president, will be willing to take part in a presidential debate whenever it is organized by stakeholders.

He seemed to confirm the FNP presidential candidate even though the coalition is yet to unveil him. This means that former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will support Ahmed given that they are in the same coalition, which had announced in March in Turkey that it will field a single candidate.

Others expected in the debate are Farmajo, who is defending his seat, immediate former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and Wadajir party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame. The debate, if held will be the first of its kind in the history of the Horn of Africa nation.

Harun Maruf tweeted: Top tier candidates are the leading 5 or 6 candidates based on profile, past experience, name recognition, and opinion polls. For opinion polls, we’ll need credible polling organisations that talk to caucuses, delegates, MPs, elders, and civil society who are involved in the election process.

GAROWE ONLINE