Jubaland’s Electoral Autonomy Has a Precedent

[Deeq A.]

Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam and President Hassan Sheikh in a friendly conversation before they have fallen out over the electoral model designed only for Southern Somalia.

Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — In 2019, Jubaland State and the Federal Government of Somalia fell out over Jubaland’s electoral process. Hamza Abdi Barre, then Chairman of the Jubaland Electoral Commission, gave an interview defending the rationale for holding elections in Kismaayo independently. “According to the Jubaland Constitution, the Jubaland Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will set the election schedule for Jubaland State of Somalia,” said Hamza.

When Jubaland held its election in 2019, the Federal Government of Somalia imposed an embargo on Jubaland, preventing flights from going to Kismaayo. A delegation of the Somali opposition, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Puntland President and a Kenyan delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam. Both Hassan Sheikh and his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, defended Jubaland’s constitutional right to conduct elections independently.

Yesterday, the Federal Government of Somalia issued a statement denouncing the appointment of members to the Jubaland Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. President Hassan Sheikh approached his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, to facilitate negotiations with the President of Jubaland.

A clip of the 2019 interview with Hamza Abdi Barre on Jubaland elections.

In principle, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accepted that a foreign country might be better suited to untangle political issues within Somalia. Kenya invaded Somalia in 2011, citing security threats posed by Al-Shabaab, and in 2012, with the assistance of the former Ras Kambooni Brigade, the Kenyan Navy liberated Kismaayo from Al-Shabaab.

Recently, Jubaland Government accused the Federal Government of Somalia of “politicising the war against Al-Shabaab” and alleged that Mogadishu influenced units of the Somali National Army to leave the frontlines in Jubaland.

The Federal Government claims that Jubaland opposed harmonising electoral systems to prepare Somalia for one-person, one-vote elections in 2026. Puntland State described Villa Somalia’s stance as a ploy to engineer a term extension for the federal institutions, given the lack of consensus on proposed constitutional amendments and the electoral model. Both Puntland State and Somaliland administration oppose the constitutional amendments for different reasons. For this reason, the Jubaland electoral precedent is seen as legally defensible and politically feasible for maintaining stability in Somalia.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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