Jubaland and Puntland Decline Renegotiation of Somali Electoral Modalities

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Puntland and Jubaland leaders have rejected a proposal from the Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble to renegotiate key terms of the electoral modalities.

Last month, Roble convened a summit for the heads of Federal Member States to make changes to an electoral agreement that broke a political deadlock resulted by a controversial term extension.

The amendements to the electoral agreement grant more powers to heads of Federal Member States to decide who could be selected as an MP. Amendments further complicate the already shaky electoral modalities that allegedly made easier for heads of Federal Member State to handpick senators for the Upper House. MPs of Federal Member States’ parliaments had selected the senators after the role of the traditional elders was confined to the selection of MPs.

“The rejection from Puntland and Jubaland affects the mandate of Roble to prepare Somalia for indirect elections,” an analyst told Puntland Post. Roble has proposed to have some articles in the amended agreement revised to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

© Puntland Post, 2021