Jubaland President ‘Expedites’ Selection of a Distant Cousin as MP

Jubaland President Ahmed M. Islam has been accused of giving Hamse Abdi Barre an unfair advantage over other contestants.

Kismayo (PP News Desk) — Jubaland State President Ahmed Mohamed Islam has come under fire from civil society organizations in Kismayo for unfairly expediting the selection of Hamse Abdi Barre as MP (HOP 203).

“Hamse is not only a distant cousin of Jubaland President’s but he was also the Chairman of Jubaland Electoral Commission in 2019, the year the incumbent Jubaland President was re-elected in a controversial election” said an activist in Kismayo who spoke to Puntland Post correspondent on the condition of anonymity.

Hamse Abdi Barre was the Chairman of Jubaland Electoral Commission when President Ahmed was re-elected in 2019.

Jubaland State President has been accused of violating the Gentleman’s Agreement that bars the Jubaland President’s subclan from fielding a prospective MP. The selection of Hamsa shows what can go wrong with selection of MPs if leaders of the Federal Member States retain privileges to determine who could be selected as an MP.

“We will lodge a complaint with the Federal Electoral Implementation Team about electoral irregularities that can jeopordize the integrity of the process” said the civil society member.

© Puntland Post, 2022