Commentary
By Raxanreeb Research Unit
To the critics of president Abdirahman Farole, postponement of Puntland local elections is a vindication of the leaders of political associations who boycotted local elections they view as a one-man-show and a plot to entrench Farole’s power, as the election for Puntland presidency in January is just around the corner. A few days ago president Farole’s supporters threw a a party in London to launch a chapter of his Horseed ( Pioneer) Association , an unwise choice of public relations gimmicks over consensus-building.
President Farole has failed to grasp obligations his opening up of the political space would place on him to build consensus with political leaders ahead of local elections.
In January 2009 president Farole inherited a political and security mess left behind by his predecessor, Mohamud Musse Hersi, who regards Farole’s democratisation plans as an attempt to make Horseed a ruling party after January 2013 Puntland elections. The postponement of local elections ( Puntland press release class it ‘ suspension’), dealt a blow to efforts to introduce local elections but is Puntland ready for local elections? One commentator argued president Farole’s two sons run the show in Garowe, and for that reason president Farole should not be let to mislead people into thinking that Puntland is ready to bury the system of traditional leaders ( clan representatives) who select a president every four years.
President Farole turned around Puntland, disbanded the illegal Puntland Intelligence Service formed by during the late Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s presidency ( 1998-2004) but he resorted to harsher anti-Alshabaab policies that led to the execution of young men and a woman for being members of the terrorist group.
It is too early to say that Puntland has outlived its usefulness but the coming weeks and months will be crucial time for president Farole. Will he seek cooperation of the opposition to work on a road map for local elections? The decision to postpone elections is a courageous one. If president Farole refrains from badmouthing his political adversaries and calls for a consultative meeting, he will have a better chance to win the next election. The postponed local elections had image problems. People in Qardho and Galka’ayo were chanting ” No pre-planned rigging”. They have spoken . President Farole has heard them– for now.
Raxanreeb.com
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