PM Sharmarke presses for Somaliland elections in UN base

Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has called on the Federal electoral body FIEIT to relocate Somaliland elections from the police transport headquarters in Mogadishu to the UN base in Halane.

In a statement to FIEIT and Somaliland state level electoral body SIEIT, the Prime Minister said the call was in line with the wishes of elders from Somaliland whom he noted had expressed concerns of a compromised poll in the earlier proposed centre.

Somaliland is yet to commence elections of both the Lower and Upper Houses following several delays and wrangles over delegate’s lists.

The announcement is set to cause ripples with sections allied to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud whom sources say are in support of Xeradka Gadidka (Police Transport Headquarters). The Prime Minister, sources close to the developments say is concerned of a possible infiltration of the election by the President’s operatives compromising the exercise.

The Prime Minister’s statement adds to run-ins with Villa Somalia in the past one week regarding management of elections. Sharmarke wrote to intelligence agency NISA last week calling for its impartiality in relation to the elections following accusations the agency was involved in the arrest Farah Mohamed Burale an elder from Somaliland.

NISA fired back with a video clip on Twitter of Burale saying he was not under arrest. The intelligence agency said the Prime Minister had been misled. Two days ago, the Premier called for a change of leadership in the country noting there was need for new leaders who could provide better leadership.

Wrangles on electoral venue for Somaliland will likely lead to another possible of Presidential elections which currently stand delayed with no fixed date.