Somalia: Puntland leader re-nominate upper house candidates

GAROWE, Puntland- President of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland is expected to re-nominate Upper House candidates in the coming days following rejection of Federal electoral body to the original list,Garowe Online reports.

On October 8, Puntland President, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gaas, nominated candidates for the Upper House chamber of Federal Parliament but the process drew heavy criticism by women’s group for not upholding to previous agreement on women representation in the electoral process.

Women’s group argued that despite National Leadership forum (NLF) has granted women 30-percent quota in the process, Puntland government has failed to give 3 seats quota for women in the Upper House chamber. The previous list had women candidates competing for 2 seats with men candidates.    

However, women's group received support from the UN and Federal electoral body and called regional states to reserve women quota in the process. Following mounting pressure to meet deadlines, Puntland government is set to nominate women candidates for 3 seats in the new list.

Close sources tell GO that Puntland President who previously picked women candidates for 2 seats, is going to axe former Federal MP Yasin Abdi Saed to meet conditional seats for women amid fears of political disputes with other clan leaders over the interference in the process.

Continuing, voting on candidates representing Puntland state in the Upper House chamber is set to take place in Puntland Parliament next week, where over 22 candidates will compete for 11 seats quota for Puntland.

Somalia announced it will hold inclusive electoral elections for the first time in 47 years. Lower House election is expected to take place between 23 October and 10 November and will conclude in a vote by new lawmakers for a new president on 30 November.

GAROWEONLINE