MOGADISHU, Somalia Jul 14 2012 (Garowe Online) –
Transitional Federal Government President (TFG) Sheikh Sharif Ahmed met with
the traditional elders after delays in the constitutional vote, Garowe Online
reports.
TFG's top ranking officials met with the traditional elders
in Mogadishu, to reach a resolution on the selection of the National
Constituent Assembly (NCA) who will vote on the constitution.
Traditional elders at the meeting said that they selected
75% of the 825 members of the NCA which were supposed to convene on Thursday.
President Sharif was accompanied by Prime Minister Abdiweli
Mohamed Ali Gaas, Speaker of Parliament Shairf Hassan Sharif Adan and other TFG
ministers who met with elders in Mogadishu and requested that the complete the selection of the NCA.
“We requesting that the list of the NCA be submitted so the rumors
that the traditional elders selected are not elders that represent the Somali
clans,” said President Sharif.
Political analysts say President Sharif is asking the assistance of elders after empowering the Somali elders to a new mandate.
Furthermore, there were reports that a group of the traditional elders
were withholding the names of the NCA in what seems to be a political move to gain more influence in the upcoming government.
The traditional elders speaking to the press said that they
would work to resolve the issues so the constitutional vote which has been
delayed for a second time. Officials in Somalia's Puntland region say there is no agreed upon Somali elders meeting in Mogadishu, citing previous agreements that say Somali elders will nominate NCA delegates and MPs to Somalia's new federal parliament.
There are also unconfirmed reports saying that the NCA conference
will convene by the 21st of July. Somalia is supposed to have a new permanent government on 20 August 2012, under arrangements agreed upon Somali political players with international guarantors.
GAROWE ONLINE
