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Somaliland delegates converge in Mogadishu for 2016 electoral consultative forum

Storyline:National News

the Consultative forum on the 2016 electoral process, held for people from Somaliland started today  in Mogadishu.

The meeting is attended by delegates from civil society and MPs led by Somali deputy premier, Omar Arte Khalib among other 750 participants.

Somaliland which has 61 MPs in federal parliament is expected to contribute towards the electoral process even though it has insisted on pursuing its independence from larger Somalia.

The participants will discuss on the best way for Somalia’s 2016 election by giving out their views on based four election types, Multiparty system, Clan Based System (4.5), District Elections and Regional elections.

This comes five days after regional consultative forums for others regional states concluded in Somalia.

The concluded consultative forums released different perspectives, with regions divided between the clan based 4.5 system and the 1991 district electoral college option thought opinion seemed to have shifted largely in favour of the clan based system.

Outcome of  Benadir, Middle Shabelle, Hiiran, Galmudug and Southwest states  opted for clan based system whereas the forums held Jubbaland and Puntland, delegates chose the district electoral college system defined by the 1991 district boundaries.

These results of the consultative process will be presented at the National Consultative Forum which will be held next month.

The Provisional Federal Constitution states that the original four-year term of the current federal legislative branch (the Federal Parliament) of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) ends in August 2016 while the federal executive term ends in September 2016.

On 19th September this year, Somali leaders held three day consultative conference in Mogadishu where they agreed to establish the National Consultative Forum on the electoral process for 2016.

The conference which brought together the country’s leadership and international partners agreed to establish the Forum which will consist of representatives from the Federal Government, Regional States, Civil Society and international partners which will largely play an observer role.

In a communiqué from the conference said the formation of the National Consultative Forum is in line with the provisions of the 2016 roadmap otherwise known as Vision 2016 and the policy guidelines agreed upon during the High Level Partnership Forum in July.

That agreement was also in line with the call by the United Nations Security Council not to extend the term of the current administration after August 2016.

“Resolution 2232 (2015) from the United Nations is categorical that there will be no extension or delay of the 2016 elections. We also attach importance to the implementation of the decision of the government in the peace process towards the 2016 election,” read the communiqué in part.