Somalia's election talks on brink of collapse as sides still ‘far apart’

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia could be on the brink of a possible political shutdown following reports that the much anticipated Dhusamareb talks will not kick-off as planned, with just over 30 hours before the official date for opening, in yet a move that could plunge the country into a crisis.

The Federal Government of Somalia and member states had scheduled a meeting on August 15 where a technical committee was to report on the most appropriate model for upcoming elections, which was to be debated by stakeholders including Federal states' leaders.

Sources say the unprecedented removal of Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire through a no-confidence motion passed by the Lower House Chamber of the Federal Parliament on July 25 has contributed significantly to the latest impasse.

Khaire, who was viewed as the engine of the current government, was fired by MPs who accused him of among others, failing to expedite the process of holding one-person-one-vote elections in Somalia. His removal, however, was condemned by the international community and various members of the opposition.

In fact, the opposition team accused President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of working clandestinely with the Lower House in a bid to push for a term extension. The tenure for the current administration expires in November this year, and there are claims that Farmajo wants to broker a deal with the opposition for a term extension.

Already, the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC], which has settled for a universal suffrage model much to the protest from the opposition, said it will only deliver elections earliest in March 2021. Should Somalis prefer biometric registration of voters, Halima Ismael said, the country will be ready for elections in August 2021.

But the pressure from the federal leaders led to Farmajo's surprise appearance in Dhusamareb along with Khaire, who has since been replaced by Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid. It is not clear if the federal government and member states constituted a committee that was to recommend an ideal model for timely elections.

In a statement, the US and international community warned against rigidity in the talks, adding that "there will be consequences if a solution is not reached in Dhusamareb". The dismissal of Khaire, they added, should not be an excuse for the violation of the Dhusamareb agreement.

The new electoral law which was hastily passed by the Lower House and has since been approved by Farmajo insists on universal suffrage polls. But at Dhusamareb, Farmajo dismissed claims that he had a certain preferred model, adding that he was ready for negotiations.

Sources said Farmajo had requested for more time to consult Lower House over the new developments in Somalia, a reason that could have informed postponement or delay of the talks. But despite taking the approach, Khaire, who was the epicenter of the talks, was unceremoniously hounded from office.

Currently, reports indicate, the president is preoccupied with the appointment of the substantive Prime Minister. Once picked, the PM will be vetted by the Lower House and after which, he would run a government. At the moment, most activities are grounded since the transitional interim government has limited constitutional jurisdictions.

With the fluid political situation in Mogadishu, that process could drag for some time giving no room for the new PM to prepare the country for an election before the end year. There were reports that a diplomat or a member of the opposition would be considered for the sake of political stability.

Some reports also intimate that the composition of the committee made it difficult for the talks to commence since "there is nothing to talk about in Dhusamareb without the committee". The federal government, sources said, produced six members to the committee including two from Banadir, something which was contested by Jubaland and Puntland.

Last week, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo met with three regional leaders at Villa Somalia, where he was lobbying for a term extension. The Galmadug, HirShabelle, and Southwest leaders, who are close to Mogadishu administration, are said to have also met Qatar ambassador to Somalia one Bin Hamsa for similar talks.

GAROWE ONLINE