​Somalia: Disputes threaten Lower House election in Galmudug

ADADO, Somalia- widespread corruption and vote rigging were reported to overshadow the electoral process of parliamentary elections in Somalia's interim administration of Galmudug state, Garowe Online reports. 

Adado town, the headquarter of Galmudug state is hosting the ballot sessions for candidates competing for seats representing regional clans in the upcoming Lower House chamber of Federal Parliament.

Galmudug state, which received 36 seats quota in the Lower House assembly, has witnessed lingering internal clans disputes over the electoral process that threaten to hinder the ongoing process.

However, close sources tell GO that the Head of Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) General Abdulahi Gaafow, whose currently in Adado, is pushing to secure parliamentary seat for his brother, a Somali-Canadian, Abdulqadir Gaafow, that led to conflict among his sub-clan.

Isse Mahmoud Guure, the Commissioner of Hawlwadag district, is also competing for the same seat, who has the support of his brother, Mohamed Mahmoud Guure, Minister of Public works for Galmudug state and has residency in Sweden.

The conflict revolved over delegates list-who will cast their vote for the seat- submitted by Gen. Gaafow to the state's electoral committee, but opposed by the Minister Guure and clan's chief who accused Gaafow of rigging votes in favour of his brother.

According to an eyewitness at the ballot center said, Minister Guure, his brother and clan's chief were assaulted and fired at by NISA's soldiers and forcibly taken into custody, and accused of raiding the election center on Monday.

Gen. Gaafow is also reported to support Mustafa Duhulow for the other parliamentary seat of his sub-clan. Duhulow is an outgoing MP of the Federal Parliament of Somalia.

Somalia's independent dispute resolution body and international community have previously expressed  concerns over corruption, harassment and political manipulation of the Somali election, but haven't taken any concrete steps to ensure fair and credible Somali election.

GAROWEONLINE