Elections in 60 days, PM to lead Somaliland process-deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia will elect a new president and parliament in August, a new agreement signed in Mogadishu has directed heralding a sigh of relief after several months of tension that almost sank the country into full-scale violence.

The agreement signed by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble and Federal Member Presidents in Mogadishu provides a two months window period upon which the Federal and State level electoral committees should be ready to lead the country to the ballot.

The Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) and SIET at state level will prepare election timetables, the agreement reads. The agreement also addresses other contentious issues which had bedevilled talks between outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo and the FMS leaders.

Those who have an issue with the names earlier appointed by Farmaajo to FIET have three days from today to submit their lists to the PM who will assess and send them to the respective appointees namely the FMS and Federal Government for replacement, the agreement reads.

On the Somaliland question which had, until hours to the signing ceremony remained unresolved, Prime Minister Roble “shall be responsible for the conduct of the Somaliland Seat elections on the recommendation of the Speaker of the Upper House and the Deputy Prime Minister,” the agreement says.

Senate speaker will appoint nominate 4 members to the Somaliland Electoral Commission SEIT}, one member to the Federal Electoral Commission of Somaliland {FEIT} and one member to the Dispute Resolution Committee, the agreement adds but is silent on the appointment of the rest but Deputy PM Mahdi Guled had been fighting to get a lion share of nominations.

Each state-level committee is made up of 11 members while the FMS leaders are allocated four seats at the federal level; two to the FIET and two others to the conflict resolution committee.

PM Roble will lead the security and reconciliation in Gedo region. A committee from all the FMS save for Jubbaland will nominate two people who shall be district commissioner and deputy for Gerbaharey and present them to Jubbaland president Ahmed Madobe for nomination.

On the security of elections, a nine-member committee chaired by the PM and drawing membership from the Somali police force at the federal and regional level and AMISOM will be charged with securing the elections.

The agreement is silent on the nomination of delegates who will subsequently elect MPs.