Somali politicians reject proposed direct vote model as 'unconstitutional'

File photo: An MP casts her vote for Somalia's autonomous South West State president in Baidoa, Somalia, on December 19, 2018. © Mohamed Abdiwahab, AFP

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A few days after the revelation of the proposed electoral model in the federal republic of Somalia, a number of prominent politicians from the country have seemingly rejected the approach, noting that the government failed to engage stakeholders before cementing the deal.

In a rather surprise move, a technical committee representing the National Consultative Council [NCC] released the proposal to members of the public for debate, but the politicians now insist some of the recommendations are unconstitutional and against the spirit of nation-building.

The government, with the support of four federal states, announced that the country will be conducting universal suffrage elections in 2024, which will effectively end the clan-based electoral model that has been in use for several years. Clan elders and special delegates elect leaders in Somalia.

Sunday's agreement reached a meeting of the National Consultative Forum also calls for a single presidential ticket in which voters would choose a president and vice-president, effectively quashing the post of prime minister.

With the proposals yet to be approved by the bicameral legislature, a number of politicians key among them former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and four former premiers, have objected to the move, which could see scrapping of the parliamentary model of government in the country.

"We applaud efforts to get the country to a level of one-person-one-vote and a multi-party system... that enforces democratic governance," they said.

However, they charged that making a decision of such national interest "without the full representation of all federal member states will put the unity of the people in jeopardy", referring to the absence of Puntland's president Said Abdullahi Deni at Sunday's meeting.

"Making changes in the power-sharing mechanism and the governance system of the country without in-depth consultation, without consulting the public, will lead to a breakdown, a lack of confidence, and the disintegration of society."

Deni had earlier this year cut ties with the federal government citing a "lack of implementation of previous agreements". The Puntland leader has been at loggerheads with authorities in Mogadishu, making him miss the last two NCC meetings where serious policies are made.

They also objected to plans to limit to two the number of political parties able to contest elections, saying it meant that "power will be confined to a small group of people".

The country has been struggling to embrace stability for the last three decades, with the emergence of the terror group; the Al-Shabaab, making it extremely difficult. Political wrangles in the country are always the order of the day, and at times, it takes the intervention of international partners to settle them.

GAROWE ONLINE