Somalia: Puntland Election Commission concludes review of laws

GAROWE, Somalia-Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) members have concluded a seven-day review into two key laws as the northeastern state tries to give impetus to suspended democratization programme, Garowe Online reports. 

TPEC Chairman Ahmed Mohamed Ali said Tuesday that the reading of Local Council Elections Law and Political Associations Law have been concluded by the commissioners following in-depth roundtable deliberations.  

“We have finished conducting a full review of the two laws.

We have eaxmined all clauses thoroughly word by word. We dropped some clauses and at the same time added others subject to parliamentary approval when the constitutional session begins on June 15,” said Kismayo.  

Puntland Electoral Commission convened for the first debating on May 31. In mid-February, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Parliament Speaker Ahmed Ali Hashi jointly announced nine nominees for TPEC in a move hailed as a step towards one person, one vote by EU envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso.  

Puntland officially launched TPEC at a well-organized event that attracted members of diplomatic community in Garowe on May 11.

“Huge tasks including voter education awareness campaign, review into election laws, registration of political associations, voter registration, and announcement of official political parties lie ahead for the committee,” TPEC head said on launch day.  

TPEC is tasked with conducting and supervising state election under a renewed electoral Billpassed by the parliament on December 9, 2014.

GAROWEONLINE