Free and Fair Election for Mogadishu and Other Cities

D I T O R I A L
HIIRAAN ONLINE
Tuesday, September 02, 2008

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Hiiraan Online advocated in two previous editorials the need for Somali citizens to elect their leaders. Over thirty years, the forces fighting over Somalia ignored this principled, practical and sensible public policy stand. We particularly emphasized the importance for districts and regions in a federal system to elect their mayors and governors. We criticized the TFG leaders for fighting over the selection / demotion of the mayor of Mogadishu. We bluntly stated the people of Mogadishu should elect their mayor.

The recent accord reached in Addis Ababa by the TFG President and Prime Minister claims to address the administration and future of Benadir region (Mogadishu and its environs). Before we put forth our assessment of this agreement, let us refresh our readers’ minds on what the “understanding” of the top three TFG leaders calls for. It reads:

Establishment of Benadir Administration within Fifteen (Days):

2.1 The President and the Prime Minister agree to relieve the top leadership of Benadir administration from its responsibility in order to facilitate the establishment of a new administration.

2.2 The Prime Minister in consultation with the President establishes an Upper Level Committee for Benadir, entrusting with the following responsibilities.
a) To ensure the smooth functioning of the Benadir Administration until a new executive leadership is put in place.
b) To organize and lead the selection of Consultative Council as well as the election of Executive Administration of Benadir, to be endorsed by a presidential degree.
2.3 The Upper Level Committee shall establish criteria for eligibility of members to the Consultative Council as well as the Executive Administration

This agreement does not call for a free and fair election where the residents of Mogadishu elect their mayor and governor. Rather it talks about selection (not election), and endorsement, a presidential decree and unelected Upper Level Committee appointed by TFG Prime Minister in consultation with TFG President setting up unelected Consultative Council who will in turn elect Executive Administration.

It appears that the TFG leaders usurped, yet again, the right of residents of Mogadishu to elect their mayor, governor and local council. Tiptoeing around the election issue would not conceal the absence of one-person one vote in the Addis “understanding.” In a federal state districts and regions should be electing their mayors and governors. It is as simple and as straightforward as that. Unfortunately, the “understanding” of the top three TFG leaders falls short of the necessary separation of power that even the TFG Charter plainly lays down. The right to vote is also the inalienable right of Mogadishu residents and all Somali citizens.

Allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote would boost peace and reconciliation in Somalia. Free and fair elections would de-politicize the real social, educational and healthcare troubles that beset Somalia. Instead of chasing phantom political problems, elected officials would be required to deal with the long-neglected public security, sanitation, healthcare, unemployment and education needs of the residents of towns and regions such as Mogadishu, Kismayo, Beledweyne and others.

Taking into account the positive developments that are concurrently converging in the national scene such as the Djibouti peace agreement and the attention and apparent neutrality of the UN and the international community, the following steps are necessary for peace, reconciliation and democratic governance for Mogadishu and other Somali cities.

TFG and the Alliance in consultation with civil society and other opposition groups (interested in elections) should jointly form an independent and CREDIBLE Mogadishu Electoral Commission. The UN should lend a hand in this effort.

The bipartisan Commission is to be inclusive, practical and legitimate. It should involve all stakeholders to maximize success and more importantly, the main goal of this Commission should be to facilitate the resident of Mogadishu to elect their local governments.

The International Community and particularly the United Nations should not reflexively endorse hastily concocted stopgap measures meant to placate squabbling politicians at the expense of the fundamental rights (such as the right to vote) of the Somali people. Failure to do so will erode the already stained reputation of the United Nations.

Finally, all forces fighting in Somalia particularly the opposition groups should accept a nation-wide ceasefire during the month of Ramadan. We understand the opposition forces could be tempted / or maybe are planning an intensified fighting in this month. The people of Somalia and particularly the Mogadishu residents had had thirty years of intense and incessant wars. Hiiraan Online believes that they at least deserve a breathing space in this blessed month of Ramadan.

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