MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Candidates running for Somalia president have warned that they will not be part of an electoral process designed to rig the upcoming election if the government fails to remove intelligence agents, state employees and the incumbent president’s supporters from the list of newly appointed electoral commission.
In a press statement jointly signed by former presidents, prime minister and renowned politicians running for president of Somalia in the upcoming elections, the candidates announced they would boycott the elections if the government does not make speedy response to addressing concerns raised over the recent appointment of regional and federal electoral commissions.
The candidates stressed that intelligence agents, presidential staff and popular supporters of the incumbent president were included in a recently appointed federal electoral commission and that the move aimed to rig upcoming elections.
Earlier, the speaker of the senate Abdi Hashi disclosed that the Prime Minister removed individuals representing Somaliland – whom he had earlier picked – from the list of the new electoral commission. The presidential candidates asserted their position in regards to the matter, corroborating Mr Hashi’s statement that he was the only official with legitimacy to appoint electoral commissioners designed to manage the selection of MPs from the break-away state.
The opposition leaders raised concern that the country could slide into crisis as the mandate of both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government expires within a few months. In a stern message, they said president Farmajo will be “take responsibility” if his efforts lead the country to a political vacuum.
With a few months to go until the country’s presidential elections, candidates called for timely elections as agreed earlier between federal and regional leaders, and urged the incumbent president to abide by the terms of the deal.
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