Farmaajo in deal with FMS leaders for more time in office-CPC

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) has once again fired at outgoing president Mohamed Farmaaajo accusing him of seeking more time in office through a deal with FMS leaders.

In a statement released on Thursday, the team said, “Famaajo has shown his true intent which is that he doesn’t want to conduct a free and fair election in Somalia and the only option he could stay in office was through a political deal with FMS and other stakeholders”.

The outgoing President has in recent days bore the brunt of attacks from the 15 member team led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who called on him to resign after the expiry of his term. They accused him of seeking to extend his tenure through member states and also failing to commit to talks designed to pave way for transparent and credible elections.

In a communique released on 23^rd August, the union said that they were not in agreement with the new election procedures, terming them “unconstitutional” a move that could see the delay in preparation for the impending polls. The team held that the procedures were against the May 27 deal, which stipulates that the 135 elders who are recognized as Somali elders shall act as the basis for the selection of committees electing members of the Lower House. The deal further states that the International community and civil society members must be observers and that Federal Member States should limit their role to facilitators.

Another bone of contention for the candidates is the decision to by the National Consultative Council to give final approval of delegates list to the state electoral teams which were appointed by the FMS leaders. This in effect, the CPC said was handing FMS more influence in the Lower House elections in addition to the overwhelming authority they have over senate elections.