Somalia: Election Committee sets out criteria for Jubaland presidency

KISMAYO, Somalia, August 6, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Eight-member parliamentary election committee has unveiled criteria for candidates vying for Jubaland presidency on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

With nine days left to the date set for presidential election, electoral board members set 10 requirements candidates must fulfill.

A letter by the parliamentary committee reads that candidates should be Jubaland natives, practicing Muslims, mentality sane, never indicted and with a background check sans criminal records in the past, must have educational and leadership credentials, not younger than the age of 40 and ethically sound.

Electoral board chairperson and Female MP Habibo Mohamed Abdulle also set out the collection of a registration fee amounting to USD 7000.00 for candidates seeking the office the president.

Jubaland presidential election is due to be held on August 15 in the southern port city of Kismayo.

On Tuesday, parliament selected eight commissioners for the election commission.

300 delegates representing Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions unanimously passed a regional constitution, paving the way to first-ever draft to be adopted since Jubaland inception on Saturday.

Jubaland leader Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) has in advance written to the parliament, asking that election date be postponed from August 15.

Madobe and Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael (Fartag) were elected President and Vice President respectively following a month-long convention in Kismayo in May 2013.

As a result of IGAD-brokered bilateral talks in Addis Ababa, Jubaland officially gained its recognition from Mogadishu-based Federal Government in August 2013.

Incumbent Madobe whose forces along with Kenyan-AMISOM peacekeepers liberated strategic Kismayo port city could be planning re-election bid. 

GAROWE ONLINE