31 October 2021
The Federal Indirect Election Dispute Resolution Committee has issued a statement on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Somalia, particularly in the northern regions of Somaliland.
First, the committee objected to the joint statement issued yesterday by the Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled and the Speaker of the Upper House of the Somali Parliament, Mr. Abdi Hashi Abdullahi on the seats in the northern regions.
The commission said that Article 3, paragraph 12 of this procedure contradicts the responsibility of the Dispute Resolution Committee to make a final decision on the electoral grievances, while the procedure stated that they will resolve any issues and concerns over the Somaliland Electoral Commission.
The commission also declared that no one else has the legal authority to resolve election grievances.
“The procedure for the election of the Parliamentary seats for he northern regions (Somaliland) issued on: 30/10/2021, article 3, paragraph 12 reads as follows (any disputes that the selection committee of the community delegates could not resolve will be resolved by the Somaliland Electoral Commission). It states that this article directly contradicts the responsibilities assigned to the Dispute Resolution Committee, and that no one else has the legal authority to resolve grievances arising from the post-2020, 2021 elections, ”the statement from the Dispute Resolution Committee said.
The commission’s statement issued today also said that the agreement reached at the National Consultative Assembly should be respected at all times.
“The Electoral Disputes Resolution Committee reminds the state election commissions (SEITs) and the Federal Electoral Implementation Committee (FET) to abide by all agreements reached by the National Consultative Assembly, especially the National Consultative Assembly communiqué. 21-22 August 2021. Article 2 of the Electoral Delegation Procedure and Article 3 of the 2021 Electoral Transaction Initiative.
Finally, the Electoral Disputes Resolution Committee called on the Somaliland Electoral Commission to rectify the shortcomings in the parliamentary elections process in the northern regions, in particular Article 3, paragraph 12.