Opposition parties in Somalia have rejected the electoral and dispute resolution commissions announced by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
The Forum for National Parties (FNP), an opposition coalition, blasted the appointment of the Federal Electoral Commissions (FECs) by the government.
FNP mostly cited the “inclusion of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers” as its main reason for rejecting the commissions.
The inclusion of civil servants in the commissions also riled the opposition coalition.
FNP stated that the government lacks any “moral authority” for appointing FEC for Somaliland Members of Parliament (MPs).
Its stance on Somaliland’s FEC is similar to that of Speaker Abdi Hashi of the Upper House.
Currently, it is not clear whether the growing opposition to the membership of the two commissions could jeopardize their work.
FEC and the Dispute Resolution Commission were created from September’s National Consultative Conference, which agreed on the electoral model and timeline for upcoming polls.