Somalia parliament to vote on new election deal

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia’s parliament is voting today on an election deal reached between President Farmajo and the country's Federal States' leaders on September 17 in Mogadishu following talks under US embassy pressure.

It is exected the political agreement to get the support of the MPs in both Lower and Upper Houses, with sources indicating that the first deputy speaker Abdiweli Mudey is against the pact and waging a campaign for amendment.

If the deal passes, the government in collaboration with the Federal States will begin work on the 2020/21 elections from next month by setting up joint electoral commissions to oversee the process to elect MPs of the 11th parliament.

Last week, International partners released a statement, showing ‘regret’ over the failure to achieve universal suffrage in the country and said the announced model falls short of the longstanding Somali goal of direct voting.

However, they have called for a free, fair, transparent, and inclusive electoral process, appealing to the FGS and FMS leaders to continue meeting regularly in a spirit of dialogue and compromise to address urgent national priorities, including security and economic reform as well as inclusive politics.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo appointed political novice Mohamed Hussein Roble as PM this month nearly two months after the ouster of former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in a no-confidence vote at parliament.

Roble, in his address to the parliament last week, he promised that his yet to form government will focus the national elections, security, the economy, and the finalization of the provisional constitution and reconciliation in Somalia. 

GAROWE ONLINE