Mogadishu, SOMALIA – The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) Parliament has passed the first hurdles of a controversial elections bill, setting the stage for a potential showdown over the future of Somalia’s electoral process. The bill, which has been widely criticized as an attempt by the FGS to usurp power and extend its mandate, has been met with fierce opposition from regional leaders and civil society groups, who have accused the government of undermining the principles of federalism and democratic governance.
The passage of the bill comes amid a deepening political crisis in Somalia, with the FGS and the federal member states at loggerheads over a range of issues, from the allocation of powers and resources to the modalities and timelines of the country’s electoral process. The crisis has been further compounded by the recent decision of Jubaland and Puntland, two of Somalia’s most powerful and influential regional states, to suspend all cooperation with the FGS in protest over what they see as Mogadishu’s attempts to centralize power and undermine their autonomy.
The Controversial Elections Bill
The FGS Parliament’s decision to approve the rules for passing the elections bill has been widely seen as an attempt to circumvent proper legislative procedures and fast-track the bill’s passage. Critics have accused the government of using the same tactics it employed earlier this year to illegally change the country’s constitution, a move that was widely condemned by opposition groups and civil society organizations.
The elections bill, which seeks to establish the framework for Somalia’s upcoming electoral process, has been a source of contention between the FGS and the federal member states for months. The FGS has argued that the bill is necessary to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, and to prevent the kind of irregularities and disputes that marred previous elections in the country.
However, regional leaders and opposition groups have accused the government of using the bill as a pretext to extend its own mandate and consolidate its power at the expense of the federal member states. They have pointed to a number of controversial provisions in the bill, including the centralization of electoral management bodies and the extension of the FGS’s term limit, as evidence of Mogadishu’s attempts to usurp power and undermine the principles of federalism.
The passage of the bill through its first hurdles in the FGS Parliament has only served to deepen these suspicions and further inflame tensions between Mogadishu and the regions. Many Somalis fear that the government’s attempts to push through the bill without proper consultation and consensus-building could lead to a full-blown constitutional crisis and potentially even a return to the kind of violence and instability that has long plagued the country.
Defiance Against Mogadishu
The statement by 35 MPs from Jubaland, who have come out in support of their regional administration’s decision to suspend cooperation with the FGS. The statement, which was released in the wake of Jubaland’s announcement, has been widely seen as a show of defiance against Mogadishu and a clear indication of the growing rift between the FGS and the federal member states.
In their statement, the Jubaland MPs accused the FGS of engaging in illegal and unconstitutional behavior, and of attempting to usurp power and undermine the autonomy of the regional states. They specifically cited the hastened passage of the elections bill through its first hurdles in the FGS Parliament as evidence of Mogadishu’s attempts to circumvent proper legislative procedures and impose its will on the rest of the country.
The MPs also reiterated their support for Jubaland’s decision to suspend cooperation with the FGS, arguing that the move was necessary to protect the interests of the region and its people. They accused the FGS of failing to respect the principles of federalism and power-sharing enshrined in the country’s constitution, and of pursuing a hostile and confrontational approach towards the federal member states.
The statement by the Jubaland MPs is significant not only because it represents a clear challenge to the FGS’s authority, but also because it underscores the growing sense of alienation and distrust felt by many Somalis towards the central government. Many regional leaders and opposition groups have long accused the FGS of pursuing a narrow and self-serving agenda, and of failing to address the needs and aspirations of the Somali people.
The fact that a significant number of MPs from one of Somalia’s most powerful and influential regional states have now come out in open defiance of the FGS is a clear indication of the depth of the political crisis facing the country.
