Elections in Puntland, 2013/2014

[Tillamook]

Faroole For President!

[Samafal]

Faroole will cheat into victory. Embrace yourselves with another five years of Faroole & Co.

[Mintid Farayar]

Thus far, the Bari-based Midnimo seems the only serious challenger to Faroole's Horseed party.

 

We shall see how this plays out.

 

Funding is key, so if my PL brothers are serious about ousting Faroole, vote with your wallets - which is the only effective thing you can do from Qurbaha.

 

For my SL brothers, the whole exercise is a 'copy' of the SL experience. Just utilize your understanding of the SL registration and politicking system and apply it in PL. The PL Election Commission with the help of the Western donors took the SL blueprint and applied it to the letter in PL. Even the mechanism of having the local elections determine the official political parties. The final official political parties will be 3, just like the SL system.

[Sensei]

Mintid Farayar;943028 wrote:

 

Funding is key, so if my PL brothers are serious about ousting Faroole, vote with your wallets - which is the only effective thing you can do from Qurbaha.

 

.

Meesha ma SL iyo Xamar miyaad u malaysay ? We vote with no wallet , but wit! :-))

 

 

Illyria, if the elections were held today fairly, president Faroole would come last in the tally. I do hope he recognizes the need for modern and prudent leadership, and allow fair elections that would see to the end of his corrupt administration. It is also very encouraging to see many young faces participate in this democratic process in order to publicly serve their communities.

[Illyria]

I would agree Midnimo is the real challenger.

Mintid Farayar;943028 wrote:

Thus far, the Bari-based Midnimo seems the only serious challenger to Faroole's Horseed party.

Not so fast. May be you have been peddling the same clay for so long your point of reference is flawed. Nigeria and El Salvador were the first two countries to have tried the system later applied to SL, and is now applied to PL, and will be applied to Somalia. And there dies your misinformed spill. What do they all have in common? Interpeace and all are foreign-financed.

For my SL brothers, the whole exercise is a 'copy' of the SL experience. The PL Election Commission with the help of the Western donors took the SL blueprint and applied it to the letter in PL.

[Illyria]

Sensei,

From what I hear Faroole might not seek a second term but is grooming his successor as he does not want to let go of the reins.

[Illyria]

Discussion between the ruling party and the opposition.

 

Puntland political parties sign election code of conduct

 

Six political parties seeking registration in Puntland on Thursday (January 31st) signed a joint code of conduct to manage the electoral process, Somalia's Garowe Online reported.

 

Signed at an event organised by the Puntland Election Commission, the code of conduct outlines appropriate election behaviour, including prohibiting the use of government funds by political parties, banning party supporters from carrying or displaying weapons, and setting a deadline of February 10th for the parties to fulfil all requirements to finish their registration as official political parties.

 

The Puntland Election Commission in September approved the registration of opposition parties for the first time in the region. Local elections in Puntland are scheduled to take place in May.

 

sabahionline.com

[Illyria]

Puntland Parliament temporarily endorsed constituent’s election of councils.

 

Garowe (RBC News) Puntland state legislators have an extraordinary convention that about altering the state’s constitution specially the election of councils issues.The Parliament speaker of Puntland Abdulrashid Mohamed Hersi told to the press that they transitionally approved after modifying the election concerned section of the puntland constitution.The amended statutes are not the interest of special group, the MPs are the representative of the puntland populace and they serve for the public interest. Puntland’s parliament Speaker Mr. Abdurashid said to the media.

 

The speaker added that the temporary approved law is aimed to smooth the democratization process of Puntland.

 

The Speaker was asked the reason not to have considered the special request of the Political parties, he said to have flowed the majority vote and the parliament approved the preponderance vote which was to the constitution to be altered.

 

The Speaker noted that the government is engaged to establish constitutional court which as solution for the power holding gov’t and the political parties as he appealed that puntland is not worth to be opposed at this democratization period.

 

The constitution issues about the election have been storming issues and the election time has not been postponed.

 

RBC News

[Illyria]

On The Political Stagnation of Puntland

 

The latest political announcements (press statement) by Puntland political parties and their petition to Puntland State President, the Electoral Commission and to some members of the international community under the heading: Resolving Local Municipality Elections Stalemate, issued in Garowe, March 21, 25, 2013, indicate either the non-existence of mutual dialogue or break-down of political discourse within the State on the best way forward for holding local government elections. A number of political parties including UDAD, Midnimo, PDP and Wadajir seem to have forged an association to challenge the Government on its latest reform proposals and planned changes in Voter IDs registration. Among other things, these new political parties demand the immediate delay of Municipal Elections in Puntland until adequate preparations are done to insure fair public participation and a new independent Electoral commission installed.

 

As a neutral person on the current disagreements, “stalemate” as they put it, I think it is not appropriate for me to comment on these specific documents and respective political statements surrounding these issues, despite repeated requests by members of the Puntland public to do so.

 

Discussing democratization process in Puntland State, however, gives me a great deal of pleasure. But, it is long overdue. It is unfortunate that Puntland State has not come out of age yet and still in the woods. In other words, Puntland has been heavily suffering far too long from political stagnation since its foundation in August 1998. Democratization in the State has never been in the good books of its successive leaders as it was never contemplated as political imperative or priority for the continued survival and sustainability of the regional administration against all imaginable upheavals of Somali clan politics and rocky relationships with the rest of Somalia.

 

It is extremely important to note here that rushing things of such importance and magnitude is not wise for it creates more problems and serious fatal errors in hasty fashion to feel and look good in the eyes of foreign donor community. The fate of the State hangs on it and nobody has the right to gamble at the expense of nation’s existence, public safety and regional political stability. It requires tremendous efforts, resources, thorough preparatory work and ample time to build political consensus and legal framework for the final implementation of the electoral process in fair and transparent manners.

 

They said commonly, “A thousand-step journey starts with first one”. Leaders of Puntland State (authority and opposition) task and obligation to their people is to make sure that ‘One First Step” towards democratization must be moved straight forward towards the right direction. The alternative spells danger and political suicide for all concerned.

 

Ismail Haji Warsame

WardheerNews Contributor

E-mail: ismailwarsame@gmail.com

Twitter: @ismailwarsame

Blog: Ismail Warsame

[Illyria]

A joint statement by Puntland political associations about the current democratization process.

 

These desired changes will completely alter among others the following:

 

1) Article 3, section 1; that every voter must hold an ID card which defines that s/he is a citizen of Puntland State of Somalia i.e. there will be no conditions restricting the status of each voting individual in Puntland

 

2) Article 4, section 1; that each holder of a Puntlander ID card has a right to vote in the nearest place to her/him during the voting day if s/he has already included in the voters registration list.

 

[...]

 

Opposing that, we propose the following as a basis for lasting solution to the local election crises in Puntland:

 

1. That the government must combine its maximum effort together with attracting donor support in order of speeding the voter registration system and distribution of Puntland IDs , since the obligation of the government had not been fully geared in the last eight months in order of realizing this target.

 

2. That all political associations, PTEC and Puntland government must come together in a meeting to look for common understanding on outstanding issues and resolve this matter in a way that serves the interest of our people.

 

3. That since the electoral commission has not exercised any neutrality on the disputed points over the past few months; an alternative option to form another new commission is of high priority to most of our political associations.

 

4. That local municipal election must be delayed until the government ensures that ID system got firmly in place and voter registration list established. This will take a maximum of four months after discussing it with local ID professional companies.

 

5. That a constitutional court ought to be established before the election date to arbiter any disputes that arises during voting days.

 

6. In case that local municipality elections failed to organize as per the plan outlined in PTEC road map due to lack of voter registration data base, we propose a two year transitional government that takes over authority starting from the end of this year. The main mandate of this new caretaker government is to focus the completion of the democratization process which is already underway in Puntland in a span of not more than two year’s period.

[Sensei]

Illyria;943048 wrote:

Sensei,

From what I hear Faroole might not seek a second term but is grooming his successor as he does not want to let go of the reins.

Even worse, I would take Faroole as opposed to some selected puppet. Bal naga hubsu warkaas.

[Illyria]

In all fairness I do not care who comes as long as he/she understands the game, and plays it intelligently and within the framework. Anyone worse worse than Faroole is unaccetable. At least we know what Faroole is good at and what he is not good at.

[xiinfaniin]

This is quite educational---where is Ayoub? He has shown some interest in Puntland politics.

 

Thanks Illyria for creating this thread.

 

I am fan of Faroole and his keen understanding of Somali politics ---educating the IC about Puntland's history and securing a seat on the table for it on the major decisions, advocating for federalism with a remarkable success hence shaping the political discourse around that issue.

 

However, friends returning from Puntland tell me he has not been as effective in managing domestic affairs of the Puntlanders. But his insistence on democratizing the region will hopefully give him a lasting legacy with respect to domestic policies , and a dignified exit too.

[Illyria]

Indeed,

 

The father of modern Somalia - Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan, Taleex, Sool.

 

The King - Cismaan Maxamuud, Baargaal, Bari.

 

The Sultan - Maxamuud Cali Shire, Buraan, Sanaag.

 

And the other Sultan - Cismaan Yusuf Cali 'Keenadiid', Hobyo, Mudug.

 

Ever wondered what the secessionists were up to when these men were ruling over their territories and people. Hint. Saancadaale.

[Illyria]

Minneapolis: Casho Sharaf Lagu Soo Dhawaynayo Guddoomiyaha Urur Siyaasadeedka Midnimo ee Puntland Dr. Sadeq Enow.