This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Published on July 14, 2020, Somalia's federal state leaders have expressed concerns over the country's readiness for direct elections.
Five regional state presidents, including Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Madobe of Jubaland, Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor of Galmudug, Abdiaziz Laftagareen of South West, and Mohamed Abdi Ware of Hirshabelle, met in Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug federal state, to discuss the country's electoral process.
The leaders called for 'pragmatism' in the face of the short time needed to prepare for elections, ruling out a direct election where each eligible Somali casts a ballot.
Instead, they proposed an alternative inclusive method that can be conducted within the next four months, the available time needed to prepare for elections as earlier scheduled.
According to the leaders, a universal suffrage would be unfeasible given the 'limited' time, and they invited President Mohamed Farmaajo and his Premier Hassan Khaire to discuss an 'alternative' but inclusive method.
The meeting signaled a change of trends, as the five federal member states had often held divergent views on particular issues of elections and national economy.
Abdirashid Hashi, the Director of Mogadishu-based Think-tank Heritage Institute and a former spokesman for Villa Somalia, emphasized the need for an orderly election and the resolution of many issues quickly.
