Sunday May 28, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) – The recent National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu aimed at reshaping the country's political system has encountered resistance from several prominent Somali politicians, including former Prime Ministers.
The agreement reached by Somali leaders during the four-day meeting has sparked criticism, with former Prime Minister Abdiweli Gaas and the former President of Puntland expressing their discontent.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Abdiweli Gaas deemed the electoral agreement unacceptable for the Somali nation and the current political climate. "The news that came out from Villa Somalia last night is not acceptable. It fails to address the needs of our nation in its present state," he asserted.
Similarly, former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke voiced his concerns, referring to the agreement as detrimental to the country's political stability. "Does the National Consultative Council seek to replace the former military regime and the abolished multi-party system with a single-party system? This move is akin to injecting poison into our political landscape," remarked Omar Abdirashid.
As the country navigates its path towards a reformed political structure, these opposing voices highlight the challenges faced in achieving consensus among Somalia's political leaders. The divergent opinions expressed by former Prime Ministers Gaas and Sharmarke underscore the complexity and importance of Somalia's ongoing political reform efforts.
Puntland's Minister of Internal Affairs, Abdi Farah Juha, stated that the decisions of the consultative council are against the constitution of the Federal and Regional Governments. The agreement also violates all the agreements made after the collapse of the central government.
Professor Afyare A. Elmi, the Executive Director of the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies in Somalia, predicted implementing the NCC Agreement would be difficult. "These are significant decisions made by several leaders. The leaders who have made these decisions are required to satisfy the federal and regional government councils, the opposition, and the civil society."
Mohamed Mubarak, a political and security analyst and founder of the anti-corruption NGO Marqaati, has condemned the single constituency model as a mechanism for disenfranchising Puntland and Somaliland while facilitating the election of "fake representatives" in the south.
In a communique issued early Sunday, the National Consultative Council, which includes federal leaders such as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, along with four regional leaders and the Mayor of Mogadishu, agreed to introduce direct elections as early as next year and unify the election schedules and endorsed the establishment of a presidential system for the country.
The local council elections will be the first to take place on June 30 of next year. This will be followed that year by regional parliamentary and regional leadership elections on November 30, the communique read.
The leaders have agreed that only two political parties will compete for power in the country. The current political parties law does not limit the number of political parties.