Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni said that Puntland would only nominate members of the electoral committee if the Federal Government if Somalia withdraws troops from Gedo to allow Jubaland State to conduct selection of MPs and Senators in the region.
The Puntland President insisted on the replacement of the committee tasked with selecting MPs and Senators from Somaliland.
The two conditions violate the electoral agreement signed nearly two months ago when the demands of Puntland and Jubaland states were met by the Federal Government.
“The Somali Army is not an invading army. The demands of Puntland and Jubaland reflect a desire to throw the electoral schedule into confusion. As for the committee to select Somaliland MPs and Senators, (the) Puntland President shows poor political judgement to interfere in the electoral process for Northern MPs and Senators” said Abdi Hassan, a Mogadishu-based political journalist.
Last night Prime Minister Roble met civil society members in Garowe and discussed preparations for the selection of MPs and Senators ahead of Presidential elections in 2021.
This article first appeared in the © Puntland Post, 2020 and is republished with permission.