Somalia: Puntland, int’l diplomats discuss electoral process

GAROWE, Somalia-Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) members held a meeting with donors supporting the state’s democratization process on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports. 

The discussion facilitated via VTC focused on how best Democratization Programme Steering Committee could help Puntland design an action plan for 2019 elections, possible challenges and insights into recommendations offered by stakeholders.  

A group of diplomats representing the European Union and the embassies of US, UK, Germany and Finland joined the meeting on the donor community side.  

In attendance were also presidential aide Dek Suleiman as well as representatives from PuntlandDevelopment Research Center (PDRC), Interpeace, and Puntland Non-State Actors Association(PUNSAA). 

The two sides exchanged views on essential technical and financial support for a transparent process to begin in 2017. TPEC Chairman Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Kismayo) discussed democratization process, going at length about pressing critical stages, proposals made upon Local Council Elections and Political Association Acts, mammoth tasks before the election body, and priority needs.  

Possible hurdles were also called into question during the discussion, with all sides stressing the need for oversight and accountability mechanisms to avoid failures.  

Puntland seeks to strengthen institutional framework for Electoral Board whose members were jointly named by President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Parliament Speaker Ahmed Ali Hashi in February.  

TPEC was formally launched at a well-organized event that attracted members of diplomatic community in Garowe on May 11. 

The body is tasked with conducting and supervising state election under a renewed electoral Billpassed by the parliament on December 9, 2014.

GAROWEONLINE