Somalia: Puntland President names Election Commission

GAROWE, Puntland-The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has announced the lineup of Interim Puntland Election Commission (IPEC) late on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Presidential spokesman Abdullahi Mohamed Jama has read Electoral Board members by name before reporters at Puntland State House.

Among the five-member committee are former Puntland State TV Director Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Kismayo), Abdullahi Ali Nur, Mohamed Abdulle Farah, Naimo Abdirahman Gulled, Mohamed Hassaan Soofe and secretary Mohamed Saed Omar.

Five of the nine nominees for Puntland Electoral Board are constitutionally named by the President whereas the remaining four members are picked by parliament.

Puntland is seeking to transcend into direct elections by 2019 in a process strongly backed by EU and the US.

GAROWEONLINE