​Somalia: Puntland minister assaults delegate’s family member amid ongoing Lower House election

GAROWE, Puntland- Acting Puntland Security Minister is accused of assaulting a family member of a delegate participating in the poll session for candidates competing for the Lower House elections started in Saturday in Puntland region, Garowe Online reports.

The incident occurred in Garowe city, after the deputy minister and acting minister of Security, Abdiaziz Adan Guul, has fired a pistol on a man who later sustained serious injuries from the attack. The victim was identified as Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Haji, a son of a delegate participating in the ongoing parliamentary elections.

This incident comes amid increased reports of interference, harassments and intimidation practices by several Puntland government officials over the parliamentary process, to back allied candidates for the seats in the upcoming Lower House chamber of Federal Parliament.

In most cases, candidates and delegates were harassed or barred to participate in the elections, while other reports indicate bribery payments to clans to back favored candidates.   

Last week, Somalia’s electoral dispute resolution body has announced it had received more than 1200 complaints from clans across the nation in relation to the ongoing process.

Puntland President is believed to back the presidential campaign of a leader from the Somali government-term ended in September 10- and accused of attempting to rig the election by making illicit payments to select lawmakers in order to secure votes in the forthcoming presidential election.  

Somalia’s International partners have already expressed grave concerns over the manipulation, corruption and intimidation practices in the ongoing electoral process.

GAROWEONLINE