Grievances with Mogadishu, upcoming polls unite state leaders in new party
In what could herald new political calculations in the country ahead of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, the federal state leaders have announced the formation of a new political party.
The leaders of Galmudug, Puntland, South West and Jubbaland Thursday said they were cementing their political aspirations under the National Progressive Party to be provisionally chaired by Puntland’s Abdiweli Gaas.
Speaking following the concluding of a four days meeting in Garowe, Gaas said the party will have a national outlook bringing together all Somalis and the federal states adding ‘we are hoping HirShabelle will join soon’.
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The leaders who are all facing state elections within nine months starting with South West November 7 said they were laying the foundation for a party which shall be driven by the course for ‘federalism, progressive and consultative agenda for Somalia and uniting initially the four participating federal member states’.
HirShabelle president Mohamed Waare bolted out of the Council for Inter-Governmental Cooperation (CIC) brigade early this month describing as an opposition party. He also declared his cooperation with the Federal Government. Prime Minister Hassan Khaire who spearhead Waare’s dissociation with CIC visited Jowhar the current capital of HirShabelle state mid this month.
The formation of a new party by the federal states follows months of widening rifts with Mogadishu and adds to increasing efforts by the state leaders to isolate President Mohamed Farmaajo’s administration which they have accused of interference in federal states.
In their last meeting in Kismayu early September, the state leaders declared suspension of cooperation with the federal government and in today’s communique, they maintained the status holds.
All the four leaders are also facing an election in under one year. After South West next month, Puntland will be holding its presidential election early January followed by Galmudug in July and Jubbaland in August 2019.
The leaders also accused the federal government of using resources to interfere with the upcoming elections in South West.
“It is unfortunate that the same FGS that “cannot afford” basic medical care for the regional forces that are wounded and fallen in battle lines with Al Shabab every day is also wealthy and willing enough to part with millions of dollars for a highly resourced political campaign as well as airlifting to Baidoa of security personnel, weapons and brand new armored cars for the candidate (s) of their (FGS) own – in South West constitutional FMS. This is also aimed at creating mayhem in the election of the state,” a communique from the meeting read in part.