The Farcical Nature of the One Person, One Vote Plan in Somalia

[Deeq A.]

President Hassan Sheikh has not been held accountable for authorising the 2023 security pact with Ethiopia containing a maritime security clause despite Ethiopia being a landlocked country.

Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — Nothing shows the farcical nature of one person, one vote programme of the Federal Government of Somalia better than the ardent defenders and spokesmen of this ill-timed plan. Mahdi Guled, a Federal MP, and Mohamed Mareeye, an MP and the Federal Agriculture Minister, both representing Somaliland in the bicameral legislature, exemplify this. There is a big question whether, in the 2026 indirect elections in Somalia, MPs and Senators from Somaliland constituencies could be selected in Mogadishu. Today, the bicameral legislature passed an electoral law for “political parties” similar to one passed in 2020. When the former Federal Government of Somalia realised it was unable to implement the electoral law, it resorted to term extension, risking tipping Somalia into conflict.

The federal system of Somalia turned twenty in October, and yet the incumbent leaders have not grasped that the federal system was supposed to prevent a micromanaged bicameral legislature. Instead, it institutionalised the marginalisation of many Somali clans under the 4.5 system, rendering them powerless politically and economically.

Adan Madobe, the Speaker of the Lower House, plans to facilitate a term extension for incumbent Federal Government of Somalia due to the stumbling blocks that the farcical one-person, one-vote election plans have encountered.

Clans such as the Banadiri, known to have founded coastal districts in southern Somalia, lose much under the proposed one person, one vote elections. Armed clans have taken over their districts, such as Xamar Weyne, Shangaani, Shibbis, Boondheere, Marka and Baraawe, highlighting the impact of forced displacement of Somali citizens since 1991.

Abdi Hashi, the Speaker of the Upper House, represents Hargeisa in Mogadishu.

Under normal circumstances, those districts would field candidates to contest one person, one vote elections. Since the 2000 Djibouti-sponsored reconciliation introduced the 4.5 system, many Somali clans were designated as “Others” to deprive them of political and economic rights. Only the powerful clans with strongholds managed to negotiate how positions would be shared and ensure their interests were protected. Djibouti dealt the Somali state-building initiative a far more damaging blow than Ethiopia ever did.

Mahdi Guled, representatieve a Hargeisa constituency in the bicameral legislature, claimed if “elections can be held in North Galka’yo, South Galka’yo can conduct elections”.

The control of the bicameral legislature by Villa Somalia fuels the so-called one person, one vote system, aimed at legitimising the illegal political institutions that award “powerful clans” — oppressors — for maintaining the influence to loot, displace and damage the national interest of Somalia.

Maareeye became the face of one person, one vote elections in Somalia despite representing a secessionist Somalia constituency in the bicamera legislature in Mogadishu.

No wonder Djibouti is worried that Ethiopia, to wean itself off dependency on Djibouti’s ports, intends to build a naval base and merchant port in northern Somalia under the maritime Memorandum of Understanding between the Somaliland administration and Ethiopia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud authorised the defence pact Somalia signed with Ethiopia in December 2023. A maritime security clause was contained in the agreement, despite Ethiopia being a landlocked country. His administration has not so far been held accountable for policies that jeopardised the national interest.The control of the bicameral legislature by Villa Somalia fuels the so-called one person, one vote system, aimed at legitimising the illegal political institutions that award “powerful clans” — oppressors — for maintaining the influence to loot, displace and damage the national interest of Somalia.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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