Saturday November 23, 2019
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Close to 60 political parties are today meeting with President Mohamed Farmaajo in Mogadishu following a recent meeting with former presidents.
Details of the meeting remained scanty but sources have indicated the parties together with the president will be seeking a common ground on the upcoming elections set for a start from October next year.A joint meeting last week between President Farmaajo and his predecessors Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed resolved to hold elections without delay according to statement by Mohamud.
UN Special envoy to Somalia James Swan told the UN Security Council Thursday delays to electoral timelines could put the ‘elections calendar at risk’.
“I wish to underscore the critical importance of Parliament passing the electoral code and adopting amendments to the political parties law before the end of December,” Swan said.
Somali government committed during an international donors conference in August to have the elections law approved by December by parliament.
Besides the passage of the electoral law, the country is yet to present a formal agreement on the electoral model for the parliamentary and president elections.
Prospects of a one person one vote appear to have dimmed given the remaining time and the immense logistical issues in conducting a universal vote.