Somali regional leaders arrive in Baidoa for continued election talks

Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Baidoa (HOL) – Somali government and regional leaders arrived in Baidoa today to continue their talks on the format of elections that the country will hold later this year.

The Somali government has scheduled a presidential election but conceded that a popular vote will be unlikely due to security concerns.

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President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid and the Parliament Speaker are among the senior government officials participating in the talks.

Topping the agenda for the talks is electoral process but other pressing issues such national security, the status of the capital and cooperation between regional state leaders will be discussed.

The federal government and the regional state leaders are at odds on whether Mogadishu can be represented in the Upper House of the next Parliament. This issue is expected to dominate the talks

In previous meetings, Puntland and Jubbaland leaders have earlier recommended holding the upcoming elections, considering constituencies while leaders from Galmudug and South-western states dismissed the idea and instead called for 4.5 formula of election.

According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the Government will come to an end in August and September 2016.

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