POLL TALKS: Puntland demands two more seats in elections committee

Three contentious issues stand in the way of a final agreement between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States on the newly adopted electoral model, Goobjoog News can authoritatively reveal.

The ongoing talks chaired by President Mohamed and attended by all FMS presidents are now zeroing in on three contentious issues some of which could revive the old rivalries between the two levels o government.

The formation of the ad hoc Federal Elections Committee (FEC) stands out among the three issues. Goobjoog News has established that Puntland, which considers itself as a senior FMS having been the foremost to be formed is demanding four seats in the Committee contrary to two which had earlier been floated like was the case in 2016.

According to earlier proposals, each FMS was to nominate two individuals which add up to 10 in addition to two more from the Federal Government. The composition of the Conflict Resolution Mechanism (CRM) will be solely the preserve of the Federal Government, sources told Goobjoog News.

Another key issue yet to be resolved is actualising the two-polling stations formula. According to the Mogadishu Model passed by Parliament last week, there will be two polling stations in each FMS translating to one in the capital and another in one of the towns within the FMS. Deciding on which seats will be moved out of the capital and which ones will remain is a hard nut to crack considering such issues are deeply entwined in clan interests.

In the 2016 Enhanced Legitimacy Model which the current system borrows almost word for word, delegates electing MPs gathered in the capitals of the FMS to conduct the exercise. There has to be a give-and-take approach to determine will seats will remain and which ones leave, a source privy to the talks said.

Finally, the leaders have to agree on specific timelines for the elections. In its current form, the Mogadishu Model only mentions November 1 as the start of the election process but does not set dates on each task. Among the tasks which require timelines include the selection of civil society groups which will work with the clan elders in selecting the delegates, the selection of delegates, voting for MPs and Senators and the election of the president.

The talks continue at Villa Somalia.