Somalia: Puntland ex-president on 2016 Electoral Transition

GAROWE, Somalia, November 17, 2015 (Garowe Online)-As nation-wide consultations regarding alternative models ahead of 2016 transition have got underway, former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole says, he strongly favors region-based selection and election process, Garowe Online reports.

In an interview with Puntland-based independent station, Radio Garowe, Abdirahman Mohamed Farole called on Somalis to move away from 4.5 clan quota and instead opt for more legitimate political transition than the one that led to 2012 elections, in reference to the first indirect elections to be held in war-torn Somalia.

Farole noted that the ongoing discussions are the explicit product of failures besetting Somalia’s Federal Government which announced that universal polling poised to be ‘one person, one vote’ elections will not be held in 2016.

“We are conscious of what’s going on, some of those assembled, whether they are participants or the Federal Member States have no idea about behind-the-scenes. The current government wants to retain office and to certainly make comeback whatsoever and this could keep us in status quo,” said former Puntland leader.

He suggested that 4.5 representation formula in parliamentary and presidential processes undermined political legitimacy, rights of constituencies and decision-making role of minorities.

“4.5 is clan-based system that sowed discord and division among [Somali] people, we shouldn’t return to that path,” he warned.

“Other than the Sharia, the constitution of the federal republic is the supreme law we have in place. Article 32 of the [Provisional Federal Constitution] stipulates right of access to information, “ex-Puntland president said of electorate politics awareness.

Moreover, Farole hoped that the next parliament will be picked on the basis of regions.

The remarks coincide with conferences exploring options for elections by 2016, when the term of the current government comes to an end.

On Tuesday, more than 100 representatives including Islamic scholars, traditional leaders and civil society activitists agreed that selection and election process be based on regional electorate.

GAROWE ONLINE