Tensions between Somalia’s federal government and its member states have dominated the run-up to the parliamentary and presidential elections, which are slated for December 2020 and February 2021, respectively.
This longstanding discord at its core relates to unresolved questions over power and resource sharing between Mogadishu and the federal states. It has worsened since President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” entered office in February 2017, in large part due to his efforts to exert greater political control over the states, including by strong-arming some of them into replacing their leaders with his allies.
Friction over these maneuvers in turn has hurt cooperation on issues that require the central and regional governments to work together, such as security arrangements, completion of a provisional constitution and holding elections.
Another problem in Somalia's preparation for this year's elections emerged after 12 contenders for the presidency rejected the poll team named last week. The group, in a joint statement, argued the list of the National Electoral Committee (NEC) and the Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) for the 2020-21 elections favors the incumbent.
A dozen leaders who have expressed presidential ambitions cast doubt on the impartiality of the announced NEC and CRC committees, calling the action as 'robbery and looting. Some political observers in Mogadishu argue that the wrangles over the teams could further derail the calendar which is already behind schedule on some issues.
President Farmajo is working for reelection, however many influential politicians, resembling presidents of a number of federal member states and rival clan elders don’t wish to see him reelected. Al-Shabab and even the far-less potent and extra territorially-restricted Islamic State in Somalia can disrupt the elections. As earlier than, there are dangers of vote-buying and fraud.
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