Somali opposition cast doubts over general election

The relationship between Somalia’s opposition and the federal government continues to deteriorate, even with the fact that the Horn of Africa nation has just six months to hold fresh elections, given that the term of the current regime will elapse in October.

In a statement on Saturday, the Forum for National Parties [FNP], a conglomerate of six opposition parties, accused FGS of a conspiracy to sabotage the impending elections, adding that there are deliberate plans aid “failing” of one-person-one-vote polls.

Forum for National Party(FNP) leaders Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have accused the federal government of failing to conduct a one man one vote national election.

The two leaders of Forum for National Parties, Somalia’s coalition of six opposition parties have said that the federal government has failed to organise a one-man one-vote election in the country, in a statement issued today.

They called on the Parliament not to pass the rules passed by the Joint Committee, and that the country and the environment would lead to instability.

Forum for National Parties called out for an emergency meeting and election to be discussed.

A statement from the coalition sent to newsrooms stated that:

“The Forum [For National Parties] hereby notes that the country’s leaders have failed to organise a timely and inclusive one-man one-vote election, and reiterates its call for urgent national dialogue to negotiate an agreed upon electoral process before the mandate of the current government ends,” reads the statement in part.

The statement also called on the federal parliament to reject recent proposals by a joint parliamentary committee on electoral constituencies, women’s quota, the status of Mogadishu and the election of MPs from Somaliland, saying it would lead the country down a dark path.

To solve the stalemate, FNP argues, the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo should convene an urgent dialogue that would involve all players, including the federal states, which have often accused FGS of disenfranchising them.

For several months now, the opposition team has raised reservations about Somalia’s preparedness to hold elections, a move that has since attracted concerns from the international community. The concerns have also been shared by federal states.

Opposition parties and some regional states have repeatedly expressed concerns about the government’s commitment to hold national elections on time, accusing government leaders of wanting to extend their term of office beyond 2020.

Somalia is expected to hold its first universal suffrage election although stakeholders are yet to reach consensus over among others, identification of constituencies and implement affirmative action.

On Saturday, 132 MPs supported a motion to have some seats reserved for women in the next parliament. Being a patriarchal society,

Somalia has struggled with gender mainstreaming and the international actors are keen to have at least 30 per cent of women in parliament.

Swan and FNP leaders discuss elections

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James Swan has met key opposition leaders of the main opposition coalition in the country.

Former presidents Hassan Sheikh Mahamud and Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Hassan who are now leaders of the defacto opposition coalition in Somalia, have been worried about the federal governments ability to conduct a general election before the end of the year.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James Swan met with the leaders of Forum for National Parties.

The meeting between ambassador Swan and former leaders, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed discussed political developments in the country as well as ways to conduct a transparent election process on the stipulated time.

The two former Somali leaders who are eyeing the top political post assured their commitment to closely coordinate with all actors to ensure peaceful polls.

Former President Sheikh Shariff tweeted “I met SRSG Ambassador James Swan to discuss recent political developments. We discussed the need for an inclusive, transparent, and timely election that enjoys consensus among key stakeholders in Somalia. I reiterated FNP’s commitment to work with all actors. “

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia and the oppostion leaders discussed the need for an inclusive, transparent and timely election that enjoys consensus among key stakeholders in Somalia.

Key among other issues discussed in the meeting included resuscitating the relationship between the federal governemnt of Somalia and the federal member states.

The central government has not had a cmpelling relationship with the federal member states, spcifically Jubaland and Puntland states.

Somalia is scheduled to conduct Presidential elections in February next year but the opposition political parties have raised their concerns on the possibility of President Farmajo government to extend the term in office under the tag of global COVID 19 pandemic.

Opposition parties and some regional states have repeatedly expressed concerns about the government’s commitment to hold national elections on time, accusing government leaders of wanting to extend their term of office beyond 2020.