Somalia groups begin talks for 2016 elections

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud. MPs plan to vote on his ouster motion on August 20, 2015. In a bid to prepare for elections in 2016, Somalia regional authorities have began consultations. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

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In a bid to prepare for elections in 2016, Somalia regional authorities have began consultations.

Meetings are taking place in Adado and Baidoa, the regional capitals of Galmudug authority in Central Somalia and Koofur-galbeed Administration in the south respectively.

Similar meetings have been arranged in the capital of Jubaland, Kismayu and Puntland in the northeast of the country.

The conference at City Plaza Hotel in Mogadishu is chaired by the city’s Mayor Yusuf Hussein Jumale.

STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTED

The consultations are taking place under the National Consultative Forum, a high level agency that comprises the office of the president, representatives from the executive and legislature and regional administrations.

In July, the federal government announced that contrary to what was proposed three years ago, a one-man, one-vote would not be possible and that is why the NCF was launched.

The forum, which is backed by a task force and a technical committee, will assess regional proposals and eventually declare a formula for holding elections in September next year.

The federal government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, replaced the transitional rule in 2012 but has fallen short of implementing universal suffrage.

Every meeting is attended by 150 people representing every sector of the society.

A statement from office of president said the process would not be an easy one.

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