Somali Presidential Guidelines Puntland and Jubaland Cite as Precedent

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — At the core of the deadlock over the Somalia elections are 2016 presidential guidelines for government business during the election season in which the former Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud commited himself to limiting his presidential powers to appoint, suspend from work or promote government employees, reorganise government institutions and enter into new agreements.

Members of the 2016 National Leadership Forum of Somalia.

The guidelines were issued three months after Puntland State had signed an agreement on indirect elections. President Mohamud signed the presidential guidelines in line with an agreement signed by the National Leadership Forum made up of the Federal Government and Federal Member States.

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni (left) with Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam in Mogadishu.

In May 2019, President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed, who was attending a summit in Garowe, rejected a suggestion from Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni to form a National Leadership Council.

Citing the 2016 presidential guidelines in the absence of an electoral agreement will prove an obstacle to breaking the electoral deadlock.

© Puntland Post, 2021