Saturday 18,Jan,2025 {HMC} Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has cautioned the federal government against proceeding with a unilateral election, urging dialogue to address ongoing electoral disagreements.
Speaking on Friday, Sheikh Sharif, who leads the Himilo Qaran Party, expressed concerns over what he described as the government’s intention to hold a one-sided election. He warned that such actions could lead to further divisions and stated that if the government insists on a single-party election, Himilo Qaran would consider organizing its own elections.
Sheikh Sharif emphasized the importance of consulting with the Jubaland and Puntland administrations to reach a consensus for elections encompassing the entire country.
The former President also addressed the disarmament of politicians, highlighting the perceived disparity in security arrangements. He noted that while African Union forces in armored vehicles heavily guard the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament, other politicians are left vulnerable.
Sheikh Sharif’s remarks come amid a heated debate over the type of elections to be held in Somalia next year. The federal government has remained firm in its plan to implement the country’s first one-person, one-vote election, a framework agreed upon in October 2024 by federal leaders, three regional states, and Mogadishu’s governor.
However, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) have opposed the framework, exposing fractures within the federal system.
