Mogadishu (PP Report ) — One of the challenging tasks awaiting the new parliament of Somalia is the Gedo electoral impasse. Last month, parallel elections took place in Garbaharey and El Waq. The Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble endorsed the El Waq election. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed recommended that the new parliament address the electoral rift.
Jubaland State rejected the implementation of the dual venue clause in the electoral model that designates Kismayo and Garbaharey as two election cities. A wing of Federal Electoral Implementation Team led by the Chairman, Musse Gueleh, oversaw the El Waq election and issued certifications for “MPs” elected there. Both groups of MPs elected at Garbaharey and El Waq have been denied the privilege to attend parliamentary sessions to vote.
The Speaker of the Parliament has an obligation to ensure that Gedo MPs participate in the election of a President in a few weeks’ time. Adam will probably convene a session on Gedo elections.
“Any disagreements will be resolved through talks and agreed principles” Adan told the media several weeks ago when a FEIT group challenged the election of several MPs in Southwest State.
Legal hurdles that the new parliament will have to surmount include the status of the divided FEIT. If MPs uphold the legality of September 17 electoral model, what role will FEIT play? Since the outgoing Prime Minister acted partially to bless MPs elected in El Waq, what role will the Federal Government play in resolving the electoral rift?
The new parliament relegates the National Consultative Forum made up of Federal Member States and Banadir. The burning questions are: Why did Jubaland renege on an electoral agreement to propose a new election venue? What powers did Jubaland exercise to violate an electoral model signed by all Federal Member States and Banadir? Without answering those questions the new Parliament (the People’s Assembly) will risk disenfranchising people of Gedo.
© Puntland Post, 2022
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