HirShabelle state leader fires election team boss amid deadlock 

On Saturday, the US embassy in Mogadishu has urged the two states to quickly finalize the election of the remaining seats to begin the next phase of the House leadership and the president’s vote next month.

News Keydmedia Online
HirShabelle state leader fires election team boss amid deadlock 

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia - The president of Hirshabelle Ali Gudlawe Hussein has fired the chairman of regional election commission [SEIT] Ahmed Diini and appointed Mohamed Hussein as his successor.

Gudlawe blamed the SEIT boss for incompetence and lack of consultations after announcing last night a list of traditional elders and civil society members set to elect the Lower House MPs in Beledweyne city.

The dismissal comes at a time when SEIT members are largely split between Gudlawe and his deputy, Yusuf Dabaged, who have been at loggerheads over the management of the election of 11 seats.

HirShabelle's two top leaders are in deadlock over seats sought by Villa Somalia-backed candidates who are relying on VP Yusuf Dabaged for their re-election, according to Keydmedia Online sources.

Opposing armed factions are in Beledweyne. They engaged in deadly clashes over the reservation of the seats for certain candidates and block the individuals from joining the race for the parliamentary posts.

The outgoing Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has deployed last month hundreds of Turkish-trained police and military forces to the central city in Hiran to interfere with the election of 25 MPs.

Hirshabelle and Jubaland failed to meet the March 15 deadline set for the completion of the 275 Lower House seats due to the obstacles in Beledweyne and Garbaharey that are based on clan dispute.

On Saturday, the US embassy in Mogadishu has urged the two states to quickly finalize the election of the remaining seats to begin the next phase of the House leadership and the president’s vote next month.

Washington announced twice that it has imposed visa restrictions on Somali leaders for undermining the democratic process and being an impediment to the ongoing election which saw retreated delays since 2021.

KEYDMEDIA English 

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