The Puntland Ministry of Interior has strongly condemned the election schedule issued by the Somali Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which last night announced the schedule for local council elections in the regional states.
A statement from the ministry said that the commission had included Galgodogob district in Mudug region, where Puntland’s local council elections were previously held on May 25, 2023. Also.
The ministry said that the schedule includes districts in Sool and Cayn regions, which it insisted are constitutionally part of Puntland.
The Puntland administration noted that local council elections, the House of Representatives and the presidency are constitutional powers reserved for federal member states, as stated in Article 120 of the country’s Constitution.
Puntland said that the commission that issued the schedule was not based on any agreement or law, and it does not recognize its existence. It added that the commission cannot operate within its territory and constitutional borders.
The statement also accused the Somali president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, of using the commission to foment political tensions, social division and undermine the federal system.
However, the Somali electoral commission later removed Galdogob district from the election schedule, saying it was wrongly included in the schedule and belongs to Puntland.
Puntland condemns the regional state election schedule as illegal.
