Somalia: Opening of Parliament postponed following closed door talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The much anticipated 7th session of Somalia Parliament has been postponed for a week, Senator Abshir Ahmed said, amid closed-door talks between President Farmajo and the national assembly leadership.

The joint sitting of both houses was scheduled for this Wednesday this week in which the National Independent Electoral Commission and the ad-hoc committee were set to present reports for deliberations over the impending polls in Somalia.

On his Twitter account, Sen. Ahmed said the decision to postpone the joint sitting was made by the Standing Committee, which is responsible for setting house business for the Lower House and Senate, adding that June 6th was scheduled as the new date for the session.

For almost three weeks, he added, both houses will discuss recommendations by the ad-hoc committee on the various amendments on the controversial electoral law before the submissions by NIEC chair Halima Ismael on June 27.

"Parliament will from 6-27 June debate and approve recommendations of Joint Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on unresolved issues in Elections Act," he said. "Parliament will also adopt amendments to the Political Parties Act in conformity with Elections Act."

"The Standing Committees of both Houses of Fed. Parliament today set June 6 for the resumption of the 8th session of Parliament. Also resolved the Chairperson of the electoral body brief a joint sitting of Parliament June 27 on the schedule for elections as set out in Art.13(3) of Elections Act," he added.

While top institutions within Somalia have exuded confidence in holding first universal suffrage polls since independence, certain clauses within electoral law remain contentious, leading to the current impasse between the federal government and opposition.

Among others, the team is yet to settle on the date for elections, delimitation of constituency boundaries, representation for both Banadir and Somaliland in parliament, and the 30 percent quota on women seats in both houses.

Farmajo assented to the electoral bill in February amid protests from the opposition and federal states who blamed the FGS for not consulting with them about the drafting of the contentious law.

But a source from Parliament hinted to Garowe Online that the postponement came after meeting between Farmajo and Mohamed Mursal [Lower House speaker] and Abdihashi [Senate speaker] over the anticipated report by both the ad-hoc committee about the model of the next polls.

The source revealed that the top leaders have agreed to delay the opening of the parliament session and NIEC report to next month until the differences over the mode of the elections are solved.

In the past, the international partners have backed a one-person-one-vote system, which has faced criticism from the opposition and regional leaders. The clan-based model has been used in the war-torn nation for almost two decades now.

Abdirashid Hashi, the director of Heritage Institute, said in a statement last week that both parties should strike a consensus by dropping a hard stance. Somalia, he added, was not ready for universal suffrage polls, arguing that the time frame may not allow adequate preparations.

Instead, he noted, the country should embrace the Expanded model system proposed by his group as a middle ground for smooth polls. The model would expand the number of delegates participating in elections from 14,025 to 221,000 should the stakeholders adopt it.

Ahmed Ali Ossoble, another political analyst, says "Somali people-citizens have a hunger for Democratic rules and models to solve political competition between parties and Leaders. Parliament is supreme Legislative organ and makers of rules for Elections and Political Parties".

"But like every competition there will be losers and winners and even compromises. That is the main point Somali leaders must accept not the Zero-Sum game in which clans are told the incendiary messages 'we own the place and is our #right to rule'," he added.

At the United Nations Security Council meeting last week, African Union Mission in Somalia envoy Francisco Madeira said the Horn of Africa nation was keen to hold polls this year despite escalating internal wrangles which could lead to conflicts.

“It is abundantly clear that holding national elections is a top priority for Somalia. I am also convinced, from my engagement with key election stakeholders, that they too view this as a matter of necessity and urgency,” he said.

The tenure of current Parliament and executive is set to end in October, and elections have been tentatively scheduled for December. Farmajo is facing stiff opposition from Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, both of who are yet to agree on the candidate for Forum for National Parties.

GAROWE ONLINE