Somalia is not headed to the right direction, says Senator

GAROWE, Puntland - Former Puntland State President has shed light on the biggest challenges for Somalia's future, both in terms of politically and security, Garowe Online reports.

Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, who is currently a member of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament announced Thursday that the Horn of Africa country is not headed to the right direction by its leaders.

As Somalia on the path to recovery after more than two decades of bloody conflict, it is facing problems, including dispute on the constitution-reviewing process, resource sharing and rebuilding the army.

Speaking to the local media in Garowe, Farole pointed the finger of the blame at Somalia's Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu, saying it is fueling the recurrent disputes with the Federal states.

He accused the Government of rejecting inclusive constitutional review process after blocking the representatives from the regional states in the Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission.

It is aimed that the constitutional review process will lead to a permanent constitution of Somalia, to replace the current provisional constitution that was adopted in 2012.

Amid dispute between the Federal Member States and Mogadishu, the new constitution is expected to be ready in 2019 before the country holds the planned ‘one-person, one-vote election’ in 2020.

"The disagreement in the constitutional review process still exists due to the absence of the members representing the Federal States in the committee tasked with the preparing of the charter," said Farole.

Farole made the allegations as Senators elected from Puntland arrived in Garowe on Thursday from Mogadishu for a consultation over the current situation in Somalia with government and the public.

Political Turbulence Still Threatens Somalia’s ‘Positive Trajectory’, former UN's Special envoy Nicholas Haysom warned while Briefing to Security Council last January before he was expelled from Mogadishu.

- Meddling in regional elections -

The Senator has accused Somali government of using its resources to interfere in Puntland presidential election process last January, in favour of certain candidates allied to it, but, all attempts did not succeed.

In South West State, allegations of Government interference in the electoral process and violence following the arrest of a candidate — a former Al-Shabaab deputy leader in December 2018 — does not bode well for electoral processes in other regions or for the 2020 national elections, he cautioned.

- Jubaland's next election in focus -

The southern Jubaland state presidential vote is slated in August 2019 is the next big political duel attracting huge interests locally as Mogadishu and key politicians keep eyes on the region's top seat.

The state since its inception in 2013 is headed by Ahmed Mohamed Islam better known as "Ahmed Madobe", who has this month reached deal to end the long-running political stalemate with Villa Somalia.

Senator Abdirahman Farole said despite the deal that was monitored by the Upper House, the Federal Government of Somalia is plotting campaign aimed at ousting Madobe in the next presidential election.

Official campaigns are yet to start in the port city of Kismayo, but some politicians are said to be eyeing the lucrative position of one of Somalia's richest Federal State endowed with fertile farmlands, rich grazing fields and a long and beautiful coastline rich with marine resources.

- National Security and Federalism -

The former Puntland president said the executive branch of the Federal Government is trying to derail the Federal system introduced in the country, seeking totalitarian. He termed the move "impossible".

The Somali Senator expressed concern over the "worsening security situation" in the country following deadly attacks by Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist which also retook control of new areas.

Finally, Farole slammed a recent meeting between the speakers of the regional states and the Federal parliaments in Garowe this month as "constitutional" and further deepening the situation in Somalia.

According to political analysts, Somalia politics, as usual, attracts external actors who are part of the game and will play a crucial role in different capacities depending on their interests.

GAROWE ONLINE