Somalia Opposition candidates threaten to Boycott Presidential Election

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MOGADISHU, Somalia – Opposition candidates in Somalia have threatened to boycott the upcoming presidential election if the federal government does not fix the electoral commission, which they described as bias.

In the past few days, backlash and rejection grew sharply in the Horn of Africa country for the alleged inclusion of spy agents and civil servants in the newly formed Electoral and Dispute Resolution Committees to lead the next polls.

In a strongly-worded statement, 12 Presidential candidates, including former leaders and PM have opposed the appointment of “Partisan” commissions and threatened to boycott the 2020-21 elections. 

Members of National Intelligence and Security Agency [NISA] and government employees, including Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Abdinuur Mohamed dominated the list, they said.

The candidates vying for the top seat against incumbent described the move an attempt to rig the votes of the ballot and called for revoking the contentious commissions since the process has been corrupted and designed for one man's win.

“The process for the formation of the electoral commissions both Federal and regional levels was corrupted by the offices of the president, PM and NISA leadership by including spy agents and presidential staff as well as figures well known for supporting the president,” read the statement in part.

In addition, the candidates stressed the appointment is contrary to the previous deal signed between the government and the Federal States last September which demands to hold an inclusive and transparent election in 2020-21.

“We will not be part of an electoral process premeditated to rig the forthcoming elections,” said the aspirants, adding that the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo will Shoulder Responsibility for any security and political turmoil resulting from the violation of the election agreement.

The candidates have warned FGS leaders of a serious consequence on the outcome of the process and urged the distancing of the security agencies from the management of much-awaited Somalia elections.

This comes after Somali PM Mohamed Hussein Roble last week appointed 25 members of the Federal Indirect Electoral and 21 members of the Electoral Disputes Resolution Commissions which will oversee the parliamentary and presidential elections slated for December 2020 and February 2021.

Political analysts believe that the February 8 presidential election would lack credibility without the participation of opposition candidates and could plunge the nation into crisis and power vacuum. 

GAROWE ONLINE

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