Somalia: Puntland Electoral Commission debates laws

GAROWE, Somalia-Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) members Tuesday convened to debate key electoral laws, review bylaws and propose amendments to some clauses, Garowe Online reports. 

The commissioners have also launched a review into Local Elections Law under the chairmanship of Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Kismayo). Ali told the media afterwards that review exercise was thorough and extremely candid, hoping that the meeting will be concluded with deliberations on municipal polls Law.

“We were endorsed by parliament in April, ever since we have been reviewing laws and clauses. We now have two laws including Local Council Elections Law and Political Associations Law in hands. Once we amend, then we will propose for parliamentary approval,” said TPEC Chairman, Ali.  

Electoral Committee is slated to wrap up the deliberation on laws by Wednesday, with demanding schedule to be met over the next few weeks according to Ali. 

In mid-February, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Parliament Speaker Ahmed Ali Hashi jointly announced nine nominees for TPEC in a move hailed as a step towards one person, one vote by EU envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso. Puntland officially launched TPEC at a well-organized event that attracted members of diplomatic community in Garowe on May 11.

“Huge tasks including voter education awareness campaign, review into election laws, registration of political associations, voter registration, and announcement of official political parties lie ahead for the committee,” TPEC head said on launch day.  

TPEC is tasked with conducting and supervising state election under a renewed electoral Board passed by the parliament on December 9, 2014.

GAROWEONLINE