Somalia: Differences emerge among elders over MPs selection

JOWHAR, Somalia- Differences emerged after traditional elders in Hiiran and Middle Shabelle regions disagreed over distribution of quota for the country's next parliament, Garowe Online reports.

Federal Interior Ministry has earlier entrusted allocation of 71 parliamentary seats to be divided among 24 clans to prominent elders in the two regions. 

Sources close to the matter tell GO that traditional elders in Beledweyne and Jowhar towns are in dispute over rendering the 71 seats in proportion among clans as pressure continues to mount from some clans opposed to the shares and the tight  time frame for the parliamentary selection endeavor. The process is expected to be returned back to the Interior Ministry following a failure to conclude it on time, sources have added. 

A prominent elder told VOA earlier, the course of distributing the quota to clans is surrounded by complexity, urging Federal Ministry to assume responsibility as regional elders couldn't reach consensus. The main reasons behind the stalled process are thought to be the meager quota and perceived manipulation by the country's outgoing government.     

“We formed committees to deal with the process and reach consensus but some clans disagreed with the plans, so to spare the process from degenerating into conflict, we handed over the process to the Federal government,” an elder said.

He said that some clan leaders are boycotting the ongoing inter-state formation Conference in Jowhar town: ”Those elders don’t solely represent their people and I call upon them to put aside difference and join the efforts to conclude the state building process for the regions,” said the elder.

Caretaker President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud has officially opened state formation conference on Thursday after previous conferences collapsed over mistrust and disagreement between the Federal Government and elders from the regions.

GAROWEONLINE