Somalia's opposition to submit complaints in Elections Committee members

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Union of Presidential Candidates has been given an opportunity to submit complaints against certain members of the Elections Committee ahead of polls in Somalia as one of the pre-election deal which was signed last week and that was witnessed by dozens of stakeholders.

Stakeholders agreed to have elections within two months based on the improved September 17 pre-election deal which will see the country use an advanced clan-based model. A number of delegates will participate in the elections.

But Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble appointed a ministerial-level committee that will now verify complaints against some officials, who have been often pointed at by the opposition, leading to a recent pre-election stalemate.

"PM Mohamed Roble has on Saturday appointed a ministerial-level committee to verify complaints against some members of the Electoral Commissions of both levels of electoral Federal and State commissions in accordance with Article 1 of the National Electoral Consultative Agreement," said Mohamed Moalimuu, the spokesperson for PM.

The Union of Presidential Candidates is said to be preparing to hand over 20 names of the elections committee who dispute their inclusion in the exercise. These members have been accused of being government employees, security personnel, and FGS supporters on social media.

The team nominated by candidates, which met at the Jazeera Hotel on Saturday, agreed on the number of members to be removed from the commission. For the case to count, solid evidence must be provided, the Prime Minister's team said in a statement.

The Prime Minister's Ministerial Committee will also consult the disputed list with PM Mohamed Roble before action is taken. The opposition had alleged that a number of Elections Committee members were NISA agents with blessings from Fahad Yasin, a close associate of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Last week, stakeholders signed the deal where they agreed to set aside their differences and subject the country to elections. Delegates will elect members of parliament who would later elect the speaker and President of the country. Somalia still practices the clan-based elections model.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's term ended in February this year and was forced to rescind the extension decisions following pressure from the opposition and members of the international community. The country has been without a stable government for three decades.

GAROWE ONLINE