Somalia: Senate alleges manipulation of proposals by ad-hoc committee in Lower House

Image

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A number of clauses concerning proposed electoral options were mutilated in the Lower House and do not reflect the content of the original document as delivered by parliamentary ad-hoc committee on elections, the Senate has said, in yet another dramatic development that could sabotage ongoing deliberations.

The parliamentary ad-hoc committee tabled a report which gives a raft of proposals ranging from the preferred electoral model, delimitation of boundaries, and representation of women in parliament, and some have since been debated in Lower House.

Some of the deliberations are set to be made in coming days before the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] also tables a litany of proposals on management of the much-anticipated polls, which could define the destiny of Somalis.

But through Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Senate has poked holes on some of the proposals which have been debated and ratified by the Lower House, arguing that a number of clauses have been mutilated to "serve" certain people's interests in the upcoming elections.

According to Hashi, the documents ratified by the Lower House were not "legitimate", and went on to list 27 clauses which he claims were altered by unknown people, thus completely changing the dimensions and even going against the wish of the people.

The Lower House has already approved the 30 percent quota for women representation in Parliament and on Tuesday, representation for secessionist Somaliland was ratified, with the majority of MPs endorsing the proposals.

It's not clear who altered the documents or even who authorized the action. The move is likely to cause divisions when the proposals are tabled in the Senate, in yet another debate which could define whether Somalia will hold elections in 2020-2021.

Ironically, some of the proposals in the Lower House were passed even after President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo agreed with regional leaders to halt the debate until impending negotiations between the two factions are completed.

The United States and European Union have been pushing for dialogue between FGS and federal states, a move which culminated in Monday's virtual meeting between Farmajo and federal states' leaders. A date and venue for the dialogue will be announced soon.

Despite a myriad of issues stakeholders are yet to agree on, the electoral model has stood out as the most contested issue. While both parties recommend for universal suffrage polls, the opposition and federal leaders want it implemented in the next cycle of elections due to limited time.

News about alleged manipulation of the ad-hoc committee's proposals has elicited mixed reactions in Somalia, with a section of MPs accusing Lower House Speaker Mohamed Mursal of conspiring with Villa Somalia to do the changes.

Somalia last held one-person, one-vote elections in March 1969. That year's October, the government was overthrown in a bloodless military coup. Parliamentary and presidential elections took place in late 2016 and early 2017 through a system of indirect suffrage.

The country has been struggling with unending internal political squabbles, inter-clan conflicts, and Al-Shabaab menace.

GAROWE ONLINE

Related Articles

Domestic revenue collection increases in Somalia

The minister further said Somalia will record 3.7% growth in 2024 from 2.8% in 2023. This will be the greatest development record in as many months.

  • Somalia

    27-03-2024

  • 02:35PM

Al-Shabaab strikes key town in central Somalia

Tuesday's attack was at least the third time al-Shabaab fighters attacked the village since last year.

  • Somalia

    27-03-2024

  • 11:31AM