Jubaland submits names of electoral officials as elections gather momentum in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The reality of holding elections in Somalia continues to gather momentum after some hiccups which were necessitated by an impasse that was blamed on Villa Somalia but which has since been fixed following the signing of the pre-election deal.

Last week, leaders from the federal government and federal states signed the agreement, ending months of the standoff that were characterized by accusations and counter-accusations. The leadership signed the deals in presence of the international community.

And on Tuesday, Jubaland submitted names of members of the electoral committee and those who will seat in the appeals committee, ending months of wait. The state had refused to submit the names before signing the electoral deal.

Kismayo had raised issues pertaining to the composition of the electoral committee at the federal level before questioning the arrangement in the Gedo region. There was controversy on how elections were to be held in the Gedo region of Jubaland.

"The President of Somalia’s Jubbaland State, Ahmed Madobe has submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, members from Jubbaland that will be part of Electoral and Dispute Resolution Commissions of the Federal Government," state media reported.

Ahmed Madobe signed the electoral deal after months of poking holes at the plans by the federal government to cling to Jubaland by stationing troops in the region. Most of the soldiers in Gedo had been recalled to Mogadishu in April when some SNA soldiers staged a mutiny.

Already, the opposition team has submitted names of 67 people in the electoral committee believed to be NISA agents, civil servants, or President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's sycophants. The names were submitted to the ministerial-level committee on Tuesday.

"The Committee appointed by PM Rooble to look into the complaints against members of the electoral commission, issued today the list of 67 individuals. Members from Union of Presidential Candidates including former Presidents submitted this list on Monday to PM," state media added.

The Union of Somali Presidential Candidates met on Tuesday night at the Elite Hotel in Mogadishu as the government announced the list of 67 candidates who are expected to be replaced, according to the election agreement. The opposition team compiled evidence implicating the team.

Somalia is expected to go for elections in the next two months based on the agreement thus the ongoing last efforts to streamline all operations. The AMISOM group is expected to provide security during the elections which may start in the next couple of weeks.

GAROWE ONLINE