​Somalia: Puntland’s TPEC chairman quits post

GAROWE, Puntland- The chairman of Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) has formally resigned from his post on Monday after handing over the resignation letter to Puntland President, Garowe Online reports.

Ahmed Mohamed Ali “Kismayo”, who was appointed last February, cited “personal reasons” that prompted his sudden decision to step down from the post.

“It’s a personal decision due to private circumstances and neither influenced by anyone or I have encountered a problem with anyone that led me to take this decision,” read the letter obtained by GO.  

Kismayo also expressed gratitude for Puntland President Abdiwali Mohamed Ali “Gaas” for nominating him, who later accepted the resignation.  

In February, Ali has nominated in a presidential decree, 9-members committee set to oversee democratization process and state’s direct vote in 2019 election.

The announcement comes amidst lack of support from Puntland government to move forward with democratization process to ensure transition from clan-based form of governance to democracy in Puntland. Since the official launch of TPEC in last March, the electoral body didn’t take any concrete actions to effectively introduce the multiparty system in Puntland.  

Ali who pledged during his presidential campaign to implement multiparty system in his first year and ensure one-person-one-vote in 2019 Puntland election, is seemingly reluctant to honor his previous promises to Puntland people.

The previous government led by former President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, spearheaded efforts to hold first direct and local council elections across Puntland region, but oppositions led by then presidential candidate Ali, have fiercely opposed the process who saw the democratization process in Puntland not favoring their political interests.

GAROWEONLINE