Puntland State Of Somalia
Garowe
PRESS RELEASE
17 December 2013
The President of Puntland State of Somalia H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) and Vice President H.E. Abdisamad Ali Shire met with 17 Puntland presidential candidates at State House in Garowe today.
President Farole thanked the candidates for attending the first face-to-face meeting, noting that the President extended an invitation once all the candidates reached Garowe, in order to engage in dialogue regarding the Elections 2014 and to host an honorary lunch at State House.
Gen. Abdullahi Said Samatar, whom the candidates identified as their Chairman, thanked the President for the extending the invitation and stated that the candidates came to engage in dialogue with the Puntland leadership with “a good heart”.
Mr. Ali Haji Warsame read the candidates’ four agenda points:
1) the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee should be jointly nominated between the Administration and the candidates;
2) to establish an Elders Committee;
3) presence of domestic and international election observers; and
4) agree to a Terms of Reference for the Vetting Committee and the proposed Elders Committee.
As an addition, President Farole proposed agenda #5, which is to jointly sign a Candidates Code of Conduct for the election process.
President Farole emphasized that nominating the Vetting Committee is presidential authority and that former Presidents of Puntland nominated Vetting Committees ahead of parliamentary selection process and elections in 1998, 2004, and 2008.
“We [the Government] cannot compromise on our presidential authority and legal precedent. The Vetting Committee members include intellectuals and elders who all enjoy good reputation among the community,” said President Farole, adding that the Vetting Committee enjoys public support and is already working on vetting the new MPs for Puntland House of Representatives (Parliament) to meet required criteria.
On the issue of Elders Committee, President Farole noted that neither the Government nor the candidates should interfere in the affairs of Titled Elders, emphasizing that the Elders historically convene in Garowe during the election process to observe and safeguard the political process in Puntland.
President Farole agreed on the issues of election observers and Terms of Reference for the Vetting Committee, noting that he personally invited U.N. Special Envoy to Somalia Amb. Nicholas Kay, among others, to be present as an observer on Election Day.
Speaking to media afterwards, President Farole said: “The candidates presented 4-points of discussion and we agreed on three points. In political negotiations, people maintain the issues they agree on and continue to discuss the outstanding issues.
But it is rather unfortunate that the candidates rejected all issues unless their illegal demand [to co-nominate the Vetting Committee] is accepted. It is also strange and unacceptable to Somali culture that the candidates voted to reject the honorary lunch at State House.
This is a shame because the candidates accepted our invitation, which included an honorary lunch”.
It was the first face-to-face meeting between Puntland Government leadership and 17 candidates for position of President and Vice President of Puntland Government.
The parliamentary selection process is underway and Puntland is expected to swear in a new Parliament on January 1, 2014, and MPs vote for President and Vice President of Puntland on January 8, 2014.
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