Somalia's elections in jeopardy as opposition links polls committee to NISA

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Even after solving the pre-election impasse in Somalia, the crisis seems to be far from ending following the latest outbursts from the opposition, which links some of Federal Elections Committee members to the National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA], an organ closely working with the current administration.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble had appointed members of the elections committee but the names have been subjected to the opposition with various politicians accusing them of being agents of the spy agency, which works under Fahad Yasin, a close ally of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Somalia is set to hold an improved clan-based election from this month and the federal government had agreed with the federal states to form a committee that would oversee the elections. Already, most states have submitted names of those expected to oversee the elections.

But the Forum for National Parties, a conglomerate of six opposition parties, has refused to accept the list submitted by Mogadishu, arguing that the Federal Electoral and Dispute Resolution Commissions comprises of members of NISA, an outright violation of the country's laws, electoral agreements and parliamentary rules.

The move to appoint them, it added in a statement, "undermines the credibility of a free and fair electoral process in Somalia". The FNP coalition is led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who are keen to front one candidate after Farmajo in the upcoming elections.

On her party, the Wadajir Party also raised similar concerns, arguing that the list consists of NISA agents. Further, the party said that the Federal Government did not follow the law when appointing the committee of those from Somaliland, who are supposed to be in charge of the process.

"The WP is deeply concerned about the appointed national and regional-election implementation committees. The appointment is against Articles 9 and 10 of the political agreement governing the 2020/21 election, which requires members to be non-partisan, reputable, and competent enough," said Abdirahman Abdishakur, the leader of the party.

Speaker of the Upper House Abdi Hashi, who once again boycotted the northern regional electoral commission in the Somali federal parliament, said PM Roble had selected members of the presidency and the Intelligence Agency individuals, a further indication of huge differences in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE