Parliamentary Election Timelines Further Delayed

Another deadline for the completion of the parliamentary elections slated 15^th March has been missed. The international partners of Somalia showed grave concern over this repetitive delays of the election process. So far 16 seats to be elected at Garbaharrey of Gedo region remain very unlikely to materialise considering the rift between villa Somalia which controls the region and Jubbaland administration which has the authority for the state election process facilitation.

Wednesday, March 30th, 2022. Prime Minister Mohamed Roble held talks with the General Secretaries of the Federal Parliament ahead of the swearing in of the newly elected legislators next month. According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Lower House General Secretary Abdikarin Buhu and his Senate counterpart Ali Jamah met with the PM over preparations for the 11th Parliament. The meeting affirms the announcement by the Federal Indirect Elections Team mid this month which set the swearing ceremony for 14 April. South West President Abdiasis Lafta Gareen and his Galmudug counterpart, both allies of outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo, rejected the decision noting the electoral body did not have the mandate.

So far, 26 seats [16 from Jubaland and 10 from HirShabelle] are yet to be filled out of the 275 parliamentary seats of Somalia. The first senator was elected on 29 July 2021 but the process has been disrupted in several occasions by political controversies and disputes at various levels including President Farmaajo and PM Roble. Elections for the 16 seats set for Garbaharey in Gedo region remain on the balance owing to disputes between the leader of Jubaland Ahmed Madobe and President Farmaajo. [1]

On the other hand, Somalia’s Electoral Dispute Resolution Committee (EDRC) is set to release the disputed parliamentary seats to the National Consultation Council. In a released statement, the committee said they will advance 25 disputed seats to the National Consultative Council (NCC), as soon as the election is completed. The 25 disputed seats named by the ERDC are said to be in violation of the electoral process. However, the Committee did not disclose who won the 25 seats they submitted to the NCC and said it will present the total number of seats in dispute at the end of the process.[2]

US Ambassador to Somalia, Lary André, and World Bank Country Manager, Kristina Svensson, raised concerns that Somalia's successful economic reform agenda could suffer a reversal if a new government is not put in place soon. In a brief statement on the US Embassy's official Twitter account, the two officials noted that continued international financial support and debt relief for Somalia was at risk. This comes in the wake of recent warnings by the World Bank that it will suspend its financial support to Somalia by mid-May should the elections fail to be concluded by then. The US Embassy in Mogadishu's concerns come at a time when a total 26 members of the Lower House still remain unelected with no clear timelines for the parliamentary speaker and presidential election. [3]

The Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, met with British Ambassador to Somalia, Kate Foster, in Mogadishu. The two officials discussed the country's elections and the recent incidents in Mogadishu and Beledweyne. They also discussed the humanitarian situation and drought relief in the country. Foster offered her condolences to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mogadishu and Beledweyne. The ambassador said that Britain stood by the government and people of Somalia in their efforts to ensure peace in their country. PM Roble reaffirmed his commitment to the peaceful conclusion of the remaining parts of the country's electoral process.[4] The 11th parliamentary elections in Somalia have been mired repetitive delays of schedule with fraud and lack of transparency. The Somali locals and the international partners seem to be tired of long undue process and are currently focused awaiting only the process completion regardless election checks and balances were respected.

[1] Source: Goobjoog

[2] Source: Somali Dispatch

[3] Source: Jowhar

[4] Source: Halbeeg

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