Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hosted a dinner for the country’s traditional elders last night, urging them to support the one-person, one-vote electoral plan as the country faces a critical political moment.
The meeting, which took place at the Somali Presidential Palace, was attended by elders from across the country, with a lively debate on the electoral process and the future of the governance system.
President Hassan Sheikh praised the role of traditional elders in peacemaking, reconciliation and state building, describing them as the backbone of national unification. He also detailed the progress made in security, state institution-building, decentralization and democratization.
“I am fully committed to ensuring that the Somali people regain their constitutional right to elect their leaders, after 57 years,” the president said, noting that previous electoral processes have posed many challenges, especially in terms of security.
The President called on the elders to support the implementation of the one-person, one-vote elections, describing them as an important step towards building a transparent and representative political system.
For their part, the elders welcomed the talks, acknowledging the progress made in security and state-building, including the fight against Al-Shabaab and the development of infrastructure.
The meeting follows other high-level meetings in Mogadishu, including the inauguration of the Murusade clan chief Ugaas Abdirisaq Ugaas Abdullahi, which was attended by government officials and opposition politicians.
The meeting comes at a time of increasing political tensions over the electoral process and the term of office of federal institutions, with growing calls for a broad consensus to avoid further instability.
