INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS URGE RESOLUTION OF ELECTORAL IMPASSE
Mogadishu – Somalia’s international partners are deeply concerned about the continuing impasse in implementing the electoral model agreed on 17 September by President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo and Federal Member State leaders.
We urge Somalia’s top political stakeholders to demonstrate leadership in the interest of the nation and to quickly resolve outstanding issues of implementation through dialogue and compromise, so that a credible electoral process can proceed as soon as possible.
The partners appreciate recent initiatives. In particular, they welcome the visit of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to Galmudug and Puntland; the discussions among a wide range of senior Somali leaders hosted in Garowe by Puntland President Said Deni; and the outreach by Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Karie ‘Qor Qor,’ who conveyed proposals from Garowe to Federal Government of Somalia leaders and other political figures.
Programme Management Specialist - Joint Policing Programme (JPP) reliefweb.int - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reliefweb.int Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Jubaland ‘Sought’ to Open a Representative Office in Nairobi
Garowe (PP News Desk) At a question and answer session on the first day of Forum for Ideas Confrence in Garowe Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam shared an anecdote about his attempt to open a Jubaland representative office in Nairobi.
“I had the intention to open a Jubaland representative office in Nairobi. Rather than opening a seperate representative office in Nairobi, a decision that could damage the image of the Somali Embassy, I approached Ambassador Jamal [Hassan] and asked for him to accommodate the Jubaland representative’s office because I share a long border with Kenya, and Kenyan troops are in Jubaland” President Ahmed said.
By Syad Ali Jama
The federal system of Somalia was adopted in 2004. Its utility lies in addressing causes and effects of the state failure: centralisation, warlordism, dispossession and marginalisation. The federal system proved agile in addressing the first three predicaments. It has had mixed results on the fourth predicament.
In a paper entitled Dysfunctional Federalism and published in July the Heritage Institute argues “the unitary mindset of Somalis is an obstacle to the federalist devolution of power…” It is anarchical temperament of certain segments in Somalia that opposes the federal system. Unitary is a shorthand for centralisation favoured by supporters of the former Union of Islamic Courts. The alternative to federalism proposed by the likes of Aala Sheikh and Damuljadiid, two Somali politico-religious cliques, is a clannish theocracy that reduces Somalia to haven for transnational terrorists.
Presidential Candidates Mustn’t Cause the Somali Electoral Process to Stall
Mogadishu (PP Editorial) In 2016 Puntland State rejected to sign up to the election based the 4.5 power-sharing. Puntland viewed the electoral model as violation of the pledge to hold one person, one vote elections in 2017, but supported the election if the same power-sharing system will not be repeated in 2021. The Federal Government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud prepared the enhanced electoral model through which the Upper House had become the second arm of the new bicameral house.
The 2021 election is less onerous than the 2017 elections in the sense that the same selection process for MPs and Senators will have to be repeated. Why are Presidential Candidates questioning the process that, under the September 2020 agreement, granted Federal Member States more powers in process? It is discouraging that Jubaland demanded the withdrawal of Somali Army from Gedo region as a precondition to nominate m