The Government of Somalia is willing to compromise on election technicalities, but insists on one person, one vote

MUQDISHO – The Government of Somalia is ready to make concessions on the technical issues of the election, but will not compromise on the implementation of one-person, one-vote elections, said the Minister of Information Abdifatah Qasim Mahmoud.

The Minister stated that the government is ready to reach an agreement on the technical issues that can be agreed upon, however, it is committed to steering the country towards an electoral process where everyone can cast their vote. Cabdifataax Qaasim mentioned that the opposition leaders, particularly those from Puntland and Jubaland, have not yet officially communicated their position regarding participation or rejection of the electoral process that the government is pursuing.

He noted that the government is willing to make concessions regarding the procedures and technical matters that can be agreed upon, but will not accept a reversal of the principle of one person, one vote. The Minister also stated that President Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud is determined for Somalia to independently benefit from its resources, while also reducing reliance on external parties for security, economy, and trade.

On the other hand, Cabdifataax Qaasim accused some opposition politicians of having connections and cooperation with Al-Shabaab and external parties that he claimed aim to undermine the sovereignty of Somalia. He stated that the government will later present the evidence it has regarding these accusations, although he did not provide specific details of the evidence he refers to.

The Minister added that some of the individuals he accused have been involved in battles, stating that some were killed while others were captured. These accusations come at a time when the political conflict between the federal government and the opposition is intensifying, which is rooted in the electoral process of the country.

Cabdifataax Qaasim emphasized that President Xasan Sheekh was elected through a democratic process, therefore, it is essential that the conflicts

A political solution is sought through a similar process. He stated that the government cannot be forced to abandon the electoral process it supports through the use of force or violence. The electoral dispute has intensified in recent times, with the federal government calling for the country to transition to a one-person, one-vote election, while the opposition has expressed concerns about the implementation process and the need for a comprehensive political agreement.

The minister stated that the government is ready to reach an agreement on the technical points that can be agreed upon, but it is determined to steer the country towards an electoral process where everyone can cast their vote.

Abdifatax Qasim stated that the opposition leaders, particularly those from Puntland and Jubaland, have not yet officially submitted their position regarding participation or rejection of the electoral process the government is pursuing.

He noted that the government is ready to make concessions regarding the procedures and technical issues that can be agreed upon, but it will not accept a retreat from the principle of one-person, one-vote elections.

The minister also stated that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is committed to ensuring that Somalia independently benefits from its resources, while also reducing dependence on external parties for security, economy, and trade.

On the other hand, Abdifatax Qasim accused some opposition politicians of having connections and cooperation with Al-Shabaab and external parties that he claimed seek to undermine the sovereignty of Somalia.

He stated that the government will soon present the information it has regarding these allegations, although he did not provide details of the evidence he is referring to.