FNP accuses FGS of plot to sabotage Somalia elections, asks parliament to reject sections of electoral law

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MOGADISHU, Somalia - The relationship between Somalia's opposition and the federal government continues to deteriorate, even with the fact that the Horn of Africa nation has just six months to hold fresh elections, given that the term of the current regime will elapse in October.

In a statement on Saturday, the Forum for National Parties [FNP], a conglomerate of six opposition parties, accused FGS of a conspiracy to sabotage the impending elections, adding that there are deliberate plans aid "failing" of one-person-one-vote polls.

According to the faction, which is led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the time left before upcoming elections may not necessarily guarantee a credible universal suffrage election as envisaged by dozens of stakeholders.

To solve the stalemate, FNP argued, the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo should convene an urgent dialogue that would involve all players, including the federal states, which have often accused FGS of disenfranchising them.

"We note that current leaders have failed to prepare early for universal suffrage elections and this should inform the regime to organise a dialogue so that we can agree on the electoral process," read the statement in part.

However, last week, President Farmajo had pledged to summon stakeholders for an urgent meeting to solve the current impasse, but no specific date has been issued. His unprecedented statement came amid pressure from the international community to find remedies for unending squabbles in the war-torn nation.

But Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi had constituted a committee ostensibly for leading negotiations between warring factions, and it has since been endorsed by several quarters including members states. Villa Somalia is yet to issue a communique in reference to the speaker's efforts.

Apart from the model for elections, Somalia's opposition is yet to agree with the delimitation of constituencies, women representation to Parliament and that from both Banadir and Somaliland. A parliamentary ad-hoc committee has made a vast of recommendations that are currently being deliberated in parliament.

And in the statement, FNP asked MPs not to "approve" all recommendations from the ad-hoc committee including representations of women and those of Banadir [Mogadishu] and Somaliland, arguing that some would lead the country to a "dark path".

"FNP also asks federal parliament not to approve all bills that were forwarded by the ad-hoc committee because some are likely to be a recipe for chaos and instability which would plunge the country to the dark past," added the statement.

For several months now, the opposition team has raised reservations about Somalia's preparedness to hold elections, a move that has since attracted concerns from the international community. The concerns have also been shared by federal states.

Although the international partners want the universal suffrage model to be used, the opposition has raised concerns about the remaining period, and some have often insisted that the FGS would use the opportunity to extend its term against the provisions of the federal constitution.

The statement came just hours after Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh met the United Nations envoy to Somalia James Swan. The three discussed need to hold timely transparent elections that "enjoys" consensus from all parties.

"Today I met UN Somalia SRSG Amb. James Swan to discuss recent political developments. We discussed the need for an inclusive, transparent and timely election that enjoys consensus among key stakeholders in Somalia. I reiterated MadashaXQ's commitment to work with all actors," he said in a tweet.

On Saturday, 132 MPs supported a motion to have some seats reserved for women in the next parliament. Being a patriarchal society, Somalia has struggled with gender mainstreaming and the international actors are keen to have at least 30 per cent of women in parliament.

Early this month, Farmajo insisted that the country will use the one-person-one-vote model when he opened the 7th session of parliament. The model, he argued, would reduce conflict and eliminate clannism which has bedevilled the country's efforts to promote integration.

GAROWE ONLINE

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