Somalia: Hiiran elders reject MPs selection in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somalia’s electoral body decision to select the upcoming MPs for Hiiran and Middle Shabelle regions in the capital Mogadishu, has caused a stir in Beledwyene, Garowe Online reports.

Chairman of the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation team (FIEIT), Omar Abdulle has announced earlier that the parliamentary elections for Hiiran and Middle Shabelle regions will take place in Mogadishu, unlike other regional states that will carry out parliamentary elections in their state capitals.

During the press briefing, Omar Abdulle said that the clan elders and communities in both regions have welcomed the replacement of the elections to the capital Mogadishu.

On the other side, traditional elders in Hiiran region, have rejected the decision and described the move as “outrageous” and threatened to boycott the parliamentary election process.

They held meetings in Beledweyne town, regional capital of Hiiran region, and stated that 16 delegate- from Hiiran and Middle Shabelle- who participated in the ongoing conference for the Federal and State electoral committees, don’t represent their region.

We will not accept the parliamentary elections in Mogadishu, we are going to elect our MPs in Hiiran region, a prominent elder said.

This comes amid extended political deadlock in negotiations for the formation of state for Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, due to mistrust between Somali government and clan elders in the regions.

GAROWEONLINE