PM Roble summons states leaders ahead of Somalia's elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has summoned all states leadership for a meeting scheduled for June 27, as the country continues to prepare for elections, which are set to take place within the next one month across all states.

Somalia's polls were delayed after the government failed to conduct universal suffrage elections besides failing to implement September 17 pre-election deal, which had settled for indirect polls across the country. The crisis prompted leaders to hold an emergency conference meeting.

And the leadership agreed to hold elections within two months after agreeing on various controversial issues. Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble was tasked to conduct elections after various opposition leaders expressed a lack of confidence in President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

On Tuesday, the PM asked the state leaders to convene in Mogadishu to discuss the progress of election preparations. Sources say a clear timetable for an election will be issued at the end of the meeting which will be chaired by Roble.

"Prime Minister Mohamed Roble has invited the leaders of the Federal Member of States to conference in Mogadishu, on Saturday to discuss and review the ongoing electoral process on the basis of May 27th agreement," state media reported.

Already, the office of the PM has removed 34 people who had been incorporated in the electoral team, after the opposition raised complaints about them. Among others, the opposition accused some of them of being civil servants, members of spy agency NISA, and sycophants of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Despite the removal of the 34, the opposition still wants 33 others removed over similar allegations. Initially, the team had submitted 67 names for scrutiny, arguing that their presence would compromise the outcome of the elections.

But the office of the PM seems to have completed the process of constituting committees having invited them for training ahead of elections. The teams will start meeting in Mogadishu on Thursday [tomorrow] for a series of preparations.

"The Technical Electoral Support Team of the Office of Somali PM has announced on Monday that all members of the Independent Electoral Commissions to arrive in Mogadishu no later than Thursday 24 June to undergo a week-long training course for the implementation of elections," Mohamed Moalimuu, the PM spokesperson said.

GAROWE ONLINE