The Role Of Regional Administrations In The Upcoming Elections 2020/21.
The last election in 2016 went on a high note, although there were technical glitches that caused the election to be delayed for six months, but, there were not many doubts, as it currently does, that the election would take place, neither on time nor agreed-upon months of technical extension, despite Farmajo’s pledges to hold Somalia’s first universal suffrage in decades.
“It’s clear that the elections we are planning to hold are different from the previous elections which took place in the country,” said Farmajo in reference to the one-person-one-vote model, which is being fronted by several international partners.
Somalia’s provisional constitution states that the power of the central government is: (A) Foreign Affairs` (B) National Defense` (C) Citizenship and Immigration` (D) Monetary Policy, which shall be within the powers and responsibilities of the federal government, (Article 54). As the incumbent administration in Villa Somalia failed to hold 1P1V elections in the country, in September, FMSs and FGS agreed to hold indirect elections, similar to the previous 2016 elections.
Due to the failure of the above-mentioned Villa Somalia plans, and as well the failure of the NIEC, which has been working exclusively for the interest of Villa Somalia for almost the past four years, FMSs has a constitutional right to govern indirect elections to select members of parliament representing their constituencies in the FGS, both legislative chambers.
It is also significant for FMSs to form alliances during the transition period, although Villa Somalia’s efforts to repeal the formation of such alliances that may hinder Villa Somali’s attempts to rig the next polls. In this forum, the FMSs can work together in improving the security, economic, good governance, and democratization, in which Puntland is currently pursuing under Prez. Deni.
The current Members of the Parliament, which holds vast seats in the Executive branch, and as well have failed to execute their rightful mandate, which was to scrutinize the governing body, should be expelled by FMSs if their tenure expires. All FMSs should pay special attention to the process of selecting the interim electoral commission as the International Community and other security experts expresses concern about Al-Shabaab’s potential infiltration in getting seats in the next legislature chambers.
If Villa Somalia fails to implement the Sep agreement or continues to frustrate the process of forming the Interim Electoral Committee, FMSs and other Political Stakeholders and the International Community must initiate or endorse any parallel electoral plan to prevent further political impasse or unconstitutional term extension.
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