Somaliland poll team revises procedures to include PM’s approval of candidates

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Somaliland elections committee has released an amended version of the senate election procedure following objections from Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

The initial procedure stated in article three that Upper House Speaker Abdi Hashi and Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid will jointly submit the names of the candidates for the Upper House. This arrangement excluded the Prime Minister, a situation that did not sit well with the Premier who called for the amendment of the procedure.

According to the new changes issued on Sunday, Hashi and Gulaid shall jointly produce a list of candidates for the 11 seats in the Upper House for Somaliland but will have to submit to the PM for approval following the agreement of May 27 2021 of the National Consultative Forum.

The changes demonstrate the PM’s efforts to remain a key stakeholder in the Somaliland process which has been marred by long-running feuds between Hashi and Gulaid.

The amendment of the procedures has been seen as a demonstration by Prime Minister Roble in taking an oversight role in ensuring that the warring Somaliland politicians agree on the election process and the electoral committee.

The Somaliland caucus is expected to begin the election of senators this week.