MOGADISHU, Somalia – Sherif Sheikh Ahmed, a leading opposition figure, has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his government of using the “one-person, one-vote” system as a plot to remain in power beyond his legal mandate, amid growing tensions over the new unified electoral system, which Somalia has not had since 1969.
Sheikh Ahmed, a former president and current member of parliament, said President Mohamud is fully aware that Somalia is not ready for popular elections. Yet, he continues to push for this method, suggesting it is part of a plan to delay elections and extend his term.
He also questioned the fairness of holding direct elections in Somalia, which has yet to establish constitutional courts to handle election disputes and is still struggling to eradicate Al Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, making the country unsafe for such an election.
“As we all know, a one-person, one-vote election requires a stable country with constitutional courts to resolve disputes,” Ahmed said. “Given the lack of such courts and the ongoing security issues, the government’s push for such an election is nothing more than a dream,” he added.
Ahmed condemned the government’s recent decision to invalidate the re-election of Ahmed Madobe, the president of Jubaland, a regional member state in Somalia. He said Madobe opted for an indirect election rather than staying in office beyond his term.
“On Monday, Madobe was re-elected,” he said. “Instead of accepting the result, the government rejected his victory and deployed military troops to the Lower Jubba region. Now, it wants him removed. How unfortunate,” he added.
He also accused President Mohamud of pressuring regional leaders to comply with his demands or face similar military actions as those taken against Jubaland’s leadership. He urged other regional states, whose terms have expired, to hold their own elections in order to uphold the constitution.
Despite the allegations, President Mohamud and Madobe are at a standoff following Monday’s indirect election. Tensions escalated on Wednesday when a Mogadishu court ordered Madobe’s arrest for treason, while Jubaland issued a warrant for Mohamud, accusing him of treason and aiding Al Shabab.
Political analysts say President Mohamud has failed to learn from past mistakes, proposing popular electoral reforms similar to those his predecessor, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, was unable to push through.
Somalia has not had a nationwide electoral system since 1969. Key positions, such as president, prime minister, and speaker, have traditionally been filled based on clan representation. However, President Mohamud believes there is still time to move away from this clan-dominated process and hold a nationwide election.
