Somalia’s electoral programme has this past week been faced with a new challenge after key electoral teams were announced by the Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

 

Key opponents of the electoral teams say the individuals do not appear to be those meant for a free and fair election when polls are held from early next month to February next year.

 

Crucially, when Premier Roble announced the teams, it marked an important milestone: the implementation of an agreement reached between President Mohamed Farmaajo and federal state leaders, as well as the Governor of Benadir Region.

 

The lists were of members of the National Electoral Committee (NEC) and those of the Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) for the 2020-21 elections.

 

Roble’s decision came after his cabinet approved 25 individuals as NEC members selected by the federal government of Somalia (FGS) and the federal member states (FMS) to manage the election of 275 legislators of the Lower House and the 54 members of the Upper House also known as the Senate., after which the Lower House MPs will elect the President.

 

It all looked procedural from the face of it: a political agreement endorsed by the federal parliament was finally being implemented.

 

But there have been questions on whether the individuals in the lists stand for fairness, and whether those very people can guarantee the independence of the electoral commission.

 

So when 12 presidential contenders issued a statement last week, threatening to boycott the elections of the team is not revised, we took notice.

 

At Arlaadi, we do not just call for fairness just because the 12 contenders have said so. We demand it because it is what determines acceptance of results and guarantees the legitimacy of winners.

 

From the outset, any election all over the world means nothing if players, in this case contenders, feel dissatisfied with fairness and integrity of the officiating team. There is no point taking part in an election whose outcome has been determined before the polls.

 

The 12 contenders among them ex-Presidents Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and ex-Premier Hassan Ali Khaire have argued the lists include spy agents working for the national intelligence service, NISA; work for the President and Prime Minister or are known individuals sworn to support the political careers of the incumbent.

 

The declaration was also endorsed by Abdikadir Abdishakur, Mohamed Abdi Mohamed Gandhi, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, Abdikarim Hussein Guled,Abdikadir Osoble Ali, Dahir Mahamud Geele, Abdulle Mahamed, Sheikh Ali Duhulo and Mohamed Sbdirahman Ali Siriin.

 

From the outset, it is wrong to place security agents on the lists of polling officials because of the relationship they have had with the opposition leaders. Some have complained of harassment, other have argued the security officials targeted them for a possible assassination.

 

While the claims require deeper investigation, we think an outright fair-looking refer in this election must be free from any association with anyone contesting in the elections. We cannot delete individual officials’ past, such as their past association with any of their leaders. But to have any current avowed supporter of a contender is a recipe disaster.

 

The members of these teams, generally known as the Federal Electoral Implementation Teams, were supposed to be impartial, untainted and not seen as favouring a side.

 

This is why we  do not support the response from Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid who argued last week that civil servants and other government workers have always worked for the electoral teams at elections.

 

It might be true that it happened that way in the past. But Somalia’s nascent democracy must be seen to be improving rather than being stuck in the past. After all, this indirect election being held this time is a fall from the set targets initially to have universal suffrage.

 

Secondly, the electoral teams pushed through by federal states and the federal government in 2016 did not actually bring a free and fair election. An analysis by the Heritage Institute in Somalia showed there had been bribes to clans, delegates and MPs as they voted for the President.

 

We will be naïve to imagine this election will be totally perfect. But we must be strong enough to correct weaknesses that can make it obviously skewed to favour one contender.

 

So how should we go? One suggestion this week came from the Heritage Institute. In their bulletin on the controversy, they called for removal of anyone working for the current government including security agents, diplomats, and other associates. This could guarantee, at least objectivity, on the part of polling officials.

 

Secondly, we must appoint individuals who are non-partisan and then given them enough room to run their electoral affairs based only on the law of the land, not personality.

 

Somalia’s choice is clear: appoint someone who will serve personal interests and wreck the credibility of the polls or get a team of non-partisan players and continue with the trajectory of stability. Only one choice is good for Somalia and its people.