By Ahmed Sayid (Gambool),
Puntland State is scheduled to hold a Presidential Election in January 8, 2014. It had ample time and opportunity to hold this election. However, this opportunity is being squandered, misused and manipulated by the current President, Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Faroole). After having given an opportunity to extend his mandate or term in Office last year for one extra year in a controversial manner bordering on constitutional illegality, and after having exhausted that extra year in office, he is again making all sorts of obstacles and delay tactics for free and fair election.
In the same way he came to Office in 2009, the President was required to consult with all stakeholders of the election on selecting a neutral Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee, a critical body for the election since there is no Constitutional Court still in place to resolve election issues involving in the selection of new MPs. There is a mess created with hundreds of people claiming to be the new members of Puntland Parliament. No one has any idea of how to clear this mess designed by the President and his team.
The Traditional leaders act as reference source of legitimacy for such a selection. The other Presidential Candidates were supposed to feel comfortable with an impartial Vetting Committee. President Faroole was required to consult with other candidates on forming the Committee. Suddenly, he ignored both the traditional leaders and all other competing candidates by appointing unilaterally and arbitrarily a vetting committee composed mainly of men from his own and now aborted Horseed Party. President Faroole’s appointed vetting committee has started operation on his own terms. There is also another unofficial and secret–sub-committee operating under his vetting committee, which has the final say in resolving disputes over MPs selection process. This prompted other candidates, in a in rare unified opposition, to form a rival vetting committee to persuade him to consult with them in both setting up an impartial election committee and holding a free and fair election. They set a neutral location as venue and time for consultation with the President last Saturday. An impasse or stalemate is now created on the way forward for proper and peaceful election to take place in Puntland. Under pressure he now accepts to talking to the other candidates, but on his own terms and conditions, setting the venue for meeting as his office and time to be announced later when he feels free to do so. Finally, the meeting was held last Tuesday, only to collapse immediately due to the President’s uncompromising approach. He, however, continue to dismiss all other candidates as punch of Mogadishu agents or radicals, a cheap propaganda line that will not fly in Puntland, but intended for foreign consumption to solicit for support, especially from Ethiopia.
The President has ordered and designated layers of security forces loyal to him staffed with his sub-clan members and under his direct command all rallied against the interests of other candidates and intended to give him an edge and advantage in the pre-election campaigns and election process.
In the light of the above, a dangerous political and security situation is developing now in Puntland, where the consequence of this artificially created political impasse is unpredictable. It could be a recipe for political violence and popular strife that may break out any time now, if not immediately averted by timely intervention from Traditional leaders and outside interested partners. A political confrontation would quickly engulf all regions and urban centers of Puntland with extremists and militants ready to exploit and take advantage. It will be a precarious security situation that will escalate fast throughout East Africa, the Somalia’s neighbors, in particular.
It is now clear to Puntland public that the President is stubborn, divisive and main source of instability and insecurity in the country. He will not be re-elected in a free election. Sadly, he understands that, but opts for resisting that popular discontent by divisive and delaying tactics. It is a dangerous situation.
Ahmed Sayid (Gambool),
E-mail: gambool2014@gmail.com
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