There is a little double that president Farole of Puntland has slept little after former Somali Prime Minister, Dr Awbdiweli Ali, threw his hat into the Puntland election ring. If all goes well Puntland will re-elect the incumbent president or elect a new president in January 2014 .
Puntland Parliament members select a president by a secret vote. Lobbying has already begun. In his Eid Speech president Farole welcomed Dr Abdiweli’s candidacy. “ Every one will be judged on the basis of what he did for Puntland” Farole said in a typical foot-in-the-mouth moment. In another speech he alleged Dr Abdiweli and Abidrahman Hosh, an MP in Mogadishu, were aware of changes made to the draft constitution. If political amnesia had not affected president Farole it was him who championed the end of the transition through Garowe Principles.
Speeches are now the means president Farole uses to make political statements. He said that his predecessor, Mohamud Musse Hersi, had been behind disturbances that put Puntland ’s democratisation march on hold. President Farole’s detractors opine his aim was to stage mock local elections to become the ever powerful king and future kingmaker of Puntland. There is a lot of truth to this: Farole has not held any meeting with political leaders since he decided to suspend local elections nearly one month ago. He is said to be angry for being denied to make a history in Puntland. He hardly foresaw political challenges his democratisation drive would trigger. President Farole’s supporters counter that Dr Abdiweli’s candidacy is two steps backward—meaning the Puntland’s CEO is based on a rota system for Mohamud Suleiman subclan of Majeerteen clan. They have a point, too.
Raxanreeb
Use Facebook to Comment on this Post
