​Somalia: Lower House elections to resume in Puntland, says SIEIT chairman

GAROWE, Puntland- In a press conference held in the capital Garowe, the state-level Indirect Electoral Implementation team (SIEIT) has announced that the Lower House elections will resume next week for the remaining seats, Garowe Online reports. 

The announcement comes following recent suspension imposed on the parliamentary elections from Puntland Vice President and Parliament Speaker over dispute for seats for clans hailing from Sool, east Sanag and Bohodle regions in the Upper House elections for Somaliland community.

However, Puntland President has lifted the suspension after talks with caretaker Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and representatives from the international community. 

Puntland’s SIEIT called candidates competing for the remaining 15 seats along with the delegates who will cast votes among candidates to swiftly register to expedite the process. 4 seats will be reserved for women candidates, said SIEIT chairman, Khaliif Aw Ali.

Puntland received 37 seats in the upcoming Lower House chamber of Federal Parliament, and so far 22 MPs were elected since the beginning of the ballots in Puntland region.

SIEIT also called for the re-election of the seat, for the MP who deceased in Garowe city, last month. Candidates from Warsangali clans are set to compete for the seat again

Puntland was the first state to kick start the Parliamentary elections but Jubaland and Southwest state that received the most quota representation in the Federal Parliament has concluded the process

GAROWEONLINE