KISMAYO Somalia – Jubaland, a Federal Member State in southern Somalia, held an indirect parliamentary speakership election on Thursday in Kismayo, dealing a major blow to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s push for a one-person one-vote electoral system.
Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman was re-elected Speaker of the state’s new parliament securing 67 votes. His opponent Ismail Abdi Kerow received only seven votes, with three votes invalidated according to the electoral commission.
Jubaland is now preparing for its presidential election scheduled for Monday in Kismayo, about 500 km southwest of the capital Mogadishu. The election comes amid rising tensions between the state and the central government, with Thursday’s vote viewed as a violation of Somalia’s unified electoral method.
Tensions escalated last month when Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe rejected the additional year extension granted to regional states for holding popular elections next year. Madobe argued the extension was unnecessary and proceeded with his own election.
Madobe also severed ties with the central government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. His decision to hold an independent election was supported by Puntland and opposition leaders, while Mohamud rejected the plan calling it a violation of the country’s election process.
If the presidential election is held as planned, three other regional states in Somalia, whose mandates have expired, may follow suit, potentially undermining the unified election system.
Despite calls for de-escalation, Jubaland pressed forward with the indirect election, holding the parliament speakership election on Thursday, with the presidential election scheduled for Monday.
President Mohamud faces challenges similar to those of his predecessor Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, whose electoral proposals were also rejected, leading to an indirect election.
Somalia has never had a nationwide electoral system. Since 1969 clan affiliations have determined political positions like president, prime minister, and speaker which are allocated based on clan representation.
