Somalia: Jubaland, a federal member state of Somalia, today announced suspension of working relations with the federal government of Somalia led by President Hassan Mehmood Sheikh.
In a statement issued today, the Jubaland government accused the federal government of violating the constitution of Somalia. Jubaland regional government and federal government are in dispute about electoral system and other issues.
Somalia’s federal government also issued a statement today condemning a political move taken by the leader of Jubaland state to appoint an electoral committee to organize an indirect regional election. The federal government said the effort to hold indirect election violates agreements reached by the federal and regional leaders on unifying national and regional elections, holding direct elections and appointing a single border and election commission.
The government described the steps taken by Jubaland President “illegal”and claimed his term expired on August 2023. Since then he was in office based on political agreement, the statement argued.
The differences emerged last month after after Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe withdrew from the national consultative council meeting, arguing that holding direct elections requires term extension. Late last month, the federal government and some regional leaders agreed to hold direct local elections in June 2025, and regional parliamentary and leadership elections on Sept 2025.
It appears Jubaland leadership is determined to hold its own indirect elections within the next few weeks. Jubaland is the second regional state which has suspended working relations with the federal government. In August, Puntland withdrew recognition from the federal government following dispute over constitutional amendments about electoral system. Federal government and some regional states support one person one vote electoral system, but Jubaland and Puntland are in favor of indirect election.
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