Chaos in Somalia parliament as MPs approve controversial poll commission

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Chaos erupted in Somalia's parliament, Wednesday as lawmakers debated the suitability of 18 members nominated to serve in the electoral commission with the country now set to adopt the one-person one-vote electoral model, which is facing stiff opposition.

The session was briefly disrupted when opposition MPs from Jubaland, using sirens, staged a protest, halting proceedings for several moments. Jubaland, just like Puntland, is opposed to the universal suffrage model, citing consequential outcomes such as term extensions.

Legislators from Jubaland opposed the commission, arguing that consensus was not reached to avert cases of dissatisfaction — Jubaland has already embraced indirect polls, picking regional lawmakers who re-elected President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe.

As MPs battled in Mogadishu, military buildups were reported in Jubaland after the federal government deployed troops — perhaps with the ultimate goal of removing Madobe from power after he refused to cede grounds for direct elections.

But after the standoff, Somalia’s parliament approved an 18-member Independent Electoral and Boundaries Committee as it moves ahead with enacting bills passed by the country’s regional and federal leaders aimed at holding popular elections next year.

The 18-member committee will manage both regional and federal elections, a key disputed point as Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe last month insisted on having two separate committees — regional and federal level.

It is not clear how the team shall pick the implementation process with Jubaland and Puntland withdrawing from the agreement. The two states have since cut ties with Mogadishu — they remain fairly stable than the other three.

Analysts believe the ongoing conflict could have serious ramifications in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants in Jubaland and other parts of the country, with the group keen to take advantage of the stalemate. The security teams have been fighting the group across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE