Somalia: Puntland government interferes in the parliamentary election process

GAROWE, Puntland- Reports have emerged that Puntland President has designated a special committee, which is set to interfere in the outcome of ongoing parliamentary elections in Puntland region, Garowe Online reports.

Presidency sources tell GO that President Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gaas has formed a committee that includes close allies, Minister of Commerce, Minister of Labors and Puntland parliamentarians Saadiq Garad and Nuh Dheere, to closely work with clan elders and jointly select the delegates-Electoral College- who will vote for the Lower House candidates.

The committee is tasked to prevent the selection of delegates who are not supporting candidates backed by Puntland President and Federal leaders. The committee is believed to be formed to support the presidential campaign of caretaker Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.

Caretaker PM Sharmarke who recently held talks with traditional elders in Puntland region, has discussed about his presidential campaign, and urged clan elders to select MPs who will vote for him in the upcoming presidential polls.

"The main reason of establishing the committee is to ensure selecting lawmakers in the Lower and Upper Houses who are allied to Puntland President and caretaker PM Sharmarke, as they backed their nominations process," Presidency sources told GO.

National Leadership Forum (NLF) that includes Leaders of the Federal government and regional administrations, have early agreed on the roadmap framework of the parliamentary elections. Reports revealed that the NLF leaders-particularly state leaders- are in consent over the involvement in the selection of new lawmakers for political bargaining with Federal leaders.  

This comes amid recent address by UN Special Representative for Somalia, Micheal Keating to the UN Security Council over the political manipulation and delays of Somali elections, as he stressed on the importance of assuring the new extension will not create a space for manipulation or disruption, but rather maintaining the momentum to ensure the process is as transparent and credible as possible.

GAROWEONLINE