MOGADISHU ( HALBEEG NEWS) – More than ten Somali opposition presidential candidates in the country have called for the dissolution of the national election implementation committee.
In a statement on Thursday following four days of consultation meeting in Mogadishu, the leaders demanded the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo disperse the committee alleging packed with government officials and supporters of the incumbent president which is contrary to existing electoral laws.
“Dissolve all electoral commissions at the Federal and State levels, and appoint a new commission in consultation with the parties involved in the electoral administration of the Federal Government, the states, and the Council of Candidates, as their appointments do not meet the criteria.
The coalition of the presidential candidates also accused the influential director of the national intelligence (NISA) Fahad Yassin as de facto campaign manager of the president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo while calling for his immediate resignation.
“The director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Mr. Fahad Yassin Haji Dahir, should resign as the head of the agency, as he is the head of the re-election campaign to ensure the impartiality of NISA.”
The candidates which include two former heads of the state namely Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, and former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire further insisted on press freedom and a 30% quota for women during the electioneering period but also pressured President Farmajo government that if their demands will not be met they will form own poll management committee to “save the country from a power vacuum.”
“If the Federal Government takes action to hold non-consensual elections, the Assembly declares that it is working with various sectors of society and state governments to work towards an electoral process that will save the country from power and constitutional vacancies.”
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