Somalia Parliament debates Election Model

MOGADISHU, Somalia-Lawmakers in Somalia’s Federal parliament have begun debating modality adopted for 2016 elections amid talks of possible delay in polls on Tuesday, GaroweOnline reports. 

With four months left to presidential election, Somali parliament is likely to endorse the election text marred by months of deadlock over the return to 4.5 quota. 

National Assembly member Ahmed Omar Mohamud said, they began the parliamentary deliberation after Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke presented election blueprint for approval by the weekend.  

On April 4, UN-backed national government and the northeastern State of Puntland struck a deal covering scheme for 2016 Electoral Process, Upper House, 2020 roadmap, and tight implementation to be closely monitored by international community. 

 UN Somalia envoy Ambassador Michael Keating, AU representative Francisco Madiera, EU envoy Michele Cervone d’Urso, IGAD Chief Mahboub Maalin, Ambassador Mohamed AbdiAfay, Ethiopian Foreign Affairs mInister Adhanom and diplomats from Turkey, UAE, Sweden, Djibouti as well as Italy attended the signing ceremony in Puntland capital, Garowe.  

Somalia Federal Government introduced national election model that garnered swift support from western donors for long baffled by slower pace of the country’s shift away from clan-based power sharing formula in January.  On Friday, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke hoped that Somalia could see election date pushed back by at least two months. 

Somalia held first-ever presidential election on its own since the state collapse, in September 2012. 

Incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seeking second term in office under a model, UN envoycalled “a midway point between the election of 2012, when only 135 electors selected 275 Members of Parliament and 2020, when all Somalis will have a say.”

GAROWEONLINE