As expected, the conclusion of the parliamentary elections in Somalia failed to meet the February 25, 2022 deadline and even the March 15 extension to pave way for the much-delayed presidential polls. They should have been conducted on February 8, 2021.
The electoral agency, the Federal Elections Implementation Team, set March 15 as the penultimate date to conclude the remaining seats for the Lower House.
The election of the country’s 54 senators was concluded early this year but it is the election of the 275 MPs has been the source of delays for FEIT, with numerous unresolved issues, mistrust, manipulation, infighting and insecurity threats posed by terror group al Shabaab.
The terror group has intensified its attacks to paralyse the election process in several parts of Somalia killing 14 people in Beledweyn, and laying an ambush on a convoy carrying Puntland president Saeed Abdullahi Deni on February 21. Two of his guards were killed.
Clashes also erupted few days ago in HirShabelle state between government soldiers guarding the presidential residence resulting in deaths and injuries. Days before, HirShabelle president Ali Guudlawe Hussein and his vice president, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar, publicly disagreed on how to proceed with the remaining seats in the state.
Tension still remains high following deployment of soldiers after the falling out of the president and vice president. US Ambassador Larry Andre recently spoke with the president regarding the on-going elections in that state.
Meanwhile in Puntland, State Electoral Commission deputy chairman Aynanshe Yusuf Hussein resigned his post to viet for one of the remaining 16 seats. Two days later, two other senior officials of the commission followed suit and resigned, leaving the process in limbo.
However, all eyes are fixed on the state delegates who are expected to pick the remaining MPs. The delegates are reported to be divided down the middle, amid accusations of manipulation of the electoral process in the state. Jamal Mohamed Hassan, Ministry of Planning and a critic of Puntland president who was seeking a second term as a MP for Sanaag region, lost the seat to a newcomer.
The crisis in Gedo region of Jubbaland state remains fluid, with delegates unable to decide on how to proceed with the remaining 16 seats set aside for Gerbaharey. Mistrust, suspicions and lack of collaboration have led the state officials to refuse to work with the committee appointed by the federal government. The situation remains very volatile and could lead to violence in the region, if an agreement is not reached soon.
And in Galmudug protests erupted when former Somali National Army General Dahir Adan Elmi was barred from running for one of the seats that was reserved for a woman representative. Speaking to the media, the retired soldier blamed the state President, Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor, for denying him the opportunity to run after serving his country for many years.
It should be noted that the ongoing election has seen more security officers drawn from the police, military and intelligence elected. Thus far, 40 seats have been taken up by these cadre of officers, a worrisome feeling for many as this could lead the country towards a treacherous path.
Whereas the constitution gives women at least 30 percent of the 329 seats, only 62 have so far been elected. For the country to achieve this goal, the remaining 90 seats in the lower house, at least 36 should be allocated to women. This is a tall order in a patriarchal society like Somalia to achieve this quota.
Somali Women’s Association chair Batulo Ahmed Gaballa, while commemorating International Women’s Day on March 8, blamed Somali traditional clan elders who play a pivotal role in the electoral process for obstructing and denying the election of women parliamentarians.
Speaking to the media, Gaballa noted that Somali women will seek justice for what is rightfully theirs, including the defrauded seats given to men.
Once all the 329 MPs have taken their seats, focus will now move to the Lower House and the Senate to set the stage for the presidential race with the election of the two speakers.
Abdi Hashi will most likely be nominated for the upper house, while many are speculating that former National Intelligent Security Agency official, Fahad Yasin, will be appointed for the Lower House.
Once the election of the leaders of the two houses are concluded, it will now be the time for the presidential election, which pits incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and two of his predecessor Hasan Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The election of the two speakers and that of the president have to be held before the holy month of Ramadhan starts at the beginning of April.
It should also be remembered that the US has warned that it will act against those who are sabotaging the electoral process. Similarly, the UN, the guarantor of the electoral process, wants the process concluded.
By failing to meet the deadline, Somalia has allowed President Farmaajo to continue ruling without the full mandate of the institutions that are empowered to pick a president for the country.
Fowzia Mohamoud is a consultant while David Okwembah is a journalist and media consultant with vast experience covering Somali politics and elections
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