Somalia: HirShabelle leader resigns ahead of elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Hirshabelle President Mohamed Abdi Waare resigned on Monday almost a month after his tenure can to an end, paving way for the opportunity to hold elections in the southern Somali Federal state, which has kicked off the regional elections ahead of the national polls.

Mohamed Abdi Waare is currently facing a re-election dilemma with a host of competitors declaring interests to kick him out, but his closeness to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo could give him undue advantage given perennial claims of external interference.

On Monday, he resigned to pave way for elections, even though his tenure had long expired, causing persistent criticism from his competitors who accuse Villa Somalia of a plot to organize his come back given his close association with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

The regional president has suggested a postponement of the election to next year to avoid urgency in the formation of the new administration, but his advice has fell into a deaf ear and rejected. 

Already, the state has held regional assemblies elections which saw some names submitted for approval. By last week, the state had not submitted a list for all MPs who will participate in presidential elections, but the team is set to finalize this week.

The MPs will pick the man who will lead the region for the next four years, and chances are, Waare might get another opportunity to serve Hirshabelle. Last week, there were concerns after Haram'ad police officers were deployed to Jowhar, the regional administrative capital of Hirshabelle.

Haram'ad police officers are trained by Turkish security forces and in the recent past, they have been linked to sophisticated rigging web in favor of candidates allied to Villa Somalia. The presidency has, however, often denied such allegations.

After the regional elections, the MPs will also choose senators who will present them before the Upper House in Mogadishu. Thereafter, the entire country will also pick MPs from all the five states who will be expected to elect the Federal Government president early next year.

Somalia is going for elections after stakeholders agreed on the model that will be used. Under the improved clan-based system, the country will have 101 delegates from each constituency picking MPs who will, later on, elect the president of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE