Somali parliament picks deputy speakers, defer presidential poll

[Gabbal]

Somali parliament picks deputy speakers, defer presidential poll

 

IPPMedia

 

2004-09-23 20:46:49

By Juma Kwayera

 

 

The newly constituted Somali Transitional Federal Parliament that has been meeting in Nairobi since its inauguration has month inched closer to ending nearly 15 years of bloodbath with the election of two deputy speakers of parliament.

 

However, the election of the president, earlier set for today (Wednesday), has been deferred next month, ostensibly to give the 60 aspirants for the seat enough time to campaign.

 

The decision to put off the election of the president to October 10 was arrived last week by all the 375 MPs following fears that losers in the poll would not recognise the outcome of the election.

 

According to sources at the Somali parliament at Mbagathi, Nairobi, the presidential poll was postponed to avert mounting suspicion of favouritism and rigging, which it was feared, would have led to a resumption fighting by discontented militia leaders.

 

Somalia has been without a central government since 1991 when military strongman was sent packing by a band disillusioned army officers and subsequently degenerating into a state of lawlessness.

 

The election of the deputy speakers was delayed for more than four hours because of what the MPs said the lobbying for positions in the Somali parliament.

 

By the time of going to press, the outcome of the voting that began at 5 pm was not yet known. However, 13 candidates, mainly from the minority clans were lining up for election.

 

An official of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Guled Mohammed told the Guardian late last evening that, despite the late of the election of the election deputy speakers, the process would be concluded no matter the time.

 

The speaker of the House, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, was elected on September 16, paving the way for the eagerly awaited presidential election, earlier set for September 22 (today).

 

The campaign nor the presidency was blamed for delay in picking the two deputy speakers as supporters of the 60 presidential hopefuls kept off the venue of the parliament.

 

Sources said that given the fluid situation in the Horn of Africa nation, all the 375 MPs had to be present for the voting to take place.

 

Of the MPs who were absent were the self-styled president of the Puntland, Abdullahi Yussfu, Hussein Aideed and immediate former president of the now defunct transitional national government Hassan Abdiqassim Salat.

 

The three are in the race for the presidency. Others include Jama Ali Jama and Abdullahi Ahmed Addaw.

 

Despite the crowded field of candidates, the fight for supremacy is shaping out to be a straight battle between the countryÆs two major clans û the Dorod and the ****** .

 

The delegates who have been attending the Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Nairobi are grouped under five major clans, under which there are sub-clans and sub-sub-clans, each of which has been fighting to rule the country.

 

The other major clans are the *** , the Digil-Mifile and ôClan Fiveö (a conglomeration of smaller tribes with limited access to the countryÆs resources.

 

MPs The Guardian talked to yesterday (Tuesday) said the fight for the top seat would be between Abdullahi Yussuf and Abdullahi Yussuf and Abdullahi, who come from the Dorod and ****** clans respectively.

 

Abdulrahman Jama (Dorod), Abdiqassim Salat (****** ) and Hussein Aideed (****** ) are also expected to give a strong showing.

[General Duke]

Tough article to read, seems inconsistant and all over the place, the author got names wrong and the no of MP's wrong. All it did was to review what we already knew.