President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has termed the upcoming August vote as ‘critical’ and “a test” for the country’s nascent institutions. He made the observations as the meeting of National Leadership Forum (NLF) entered into its second day with urgent pressing issues on its agenda.
“The upcoming election is inseparable from the future of new and democratic Somalia,” The President told the forum in southwestern town of Baidoa on Thursday. Mohamud asked political leaders to set aside their “egos” and place national interests ahead of personal goals amid mounting international pressure to implement the electoral process parameters.
The President suggested that politicians will have no sweeping role in Electoral Implementation Teams (EITs) at the federal and regional levels. The move is geared towards winning public confidence in the parliamentary selection process.
Leaders gathered in Baidoa are discussing technical and implementation details of how Somalia can select the next set of lawmakers, including securing 30 percent of the seats in both Upper and Lower houses for women. Leaders also shared views on the financing of the polls as well as security plans for electoral process.
United Nation’s envoy to Somalia envoy, Ambassador Michael Keating, said he was lobbying with key political stakeholders on the realization of women quota. He also praised the National Leadership Forum (NLF) for the progress so far made within a short period.