Puntland holds landmark statewide district council elections
GOOBJOOG NEWS | PUNTLAND: Elections have commenced in all the 37 districts in Puntland region, the first democratic exercise in the region since 1967 a major step for the semi-autonomous state which has been marred piracy and frequent attacks by the Al-Shabaab militants.
President Saed Abdullahi Deni of KAAH party will seek to defend his seat against six opposition parties in the election which has attracted over 4000 registered voter according to Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC).
The election comes after lengthy disputes between President Deni and the opposition which have accused the president of seeking to manipulate the exercise to extend his term which ended in 2019.
Pilot elections happened in October 2021 in Ufweyn, Qardho and Eyl districts and according to TPEC, the total number of registered voters, including those who took part in the early elections, amounts to 387, 094.
“Over 387,000 voters have been registered for the Puntland elections, with women accounting for 49.7% of registered voters. The youth, aged 18-30, make up a significant 60.6% of registered voters,” TPEC said via twitter.
Monumental day
TPEC chairman Abdirazak Ahmed Said while calling on Puntland residents to go out in large numbers and vote said the exercise symbolizes a monumental day for the region and the entire Somali nation.
“Today Puntland etches its name in history symbolizing a monumental day not just for our region but for the entire Somali nation. Each individual holds the power to make a difference through their vote. Let us embrace this momentous occasion and exercise our freedom to choose, shaping a future that unites us all,” TPEC chairperson Abdirazak Ahmed Said commented.
The transition to one person one vote (OPOV) in Puntland has been volatile and fraught with obstacles and thus the officials in the region have a monumental task to ensure the elections proceed in a peaceful, fair and timely manner.
Experts however observe that while most political actors are now supportive of the local elections process, the timing and modality of the parliamentary elections continues to provoke controversy.
“As long as this issue remains unresolved, it threatens to generate political disputes that could derail the entire process. The aim of this briefing is therefore to analyze possible scenarios around the process and provide options for managing the forthcoming parliamentary elections,” an official from the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA observed.
- By Fauxile Kibet