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Somali presidential election, 2012

20 August 2012

Nominee Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden

President before election Mohamed Osman Jawari (Acting) Elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

A presidential election in Somalia took place on 10 September 2012. The newly-appointed Federal Parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud as the first President of Somalia since the dissolution of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The election had previously been scheduled for 20 August 2012, the same day that the mandate of the TFG expired, but was rescheduled for a later date.

Background

Transitional Federal Government

Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991 that saw the ouster of the Siad Barre regime, the few remaining political parties gave way to autonomous or semi-autonomous regional states in the northern part of the country, or fragmented into feuding militia groups in the south. After several unsuccessful national reconciliation efforts, a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed in 2004 with a mandate leading toward the establishment of a new constitution and a transition to a representative government.

Post-transition Roadmap

As part of the official "Roadmap for the End of Transition", a political process providing clear benchmarks leading toward the establishment of permanent democratic institutions in Somalia by mid-2012, Somali government officials met in the northeastern town of Garowe in February 2012 to discuss post-transition arrangements. After extensive deliberations attended by regional actors and international observers, the conference ended in a signed agreement between TFG President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Speaker of Parliament Sharif Adan Sharif Hassan, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, Galmudug President Mohamed Ahmed Alim and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a representative Khalif Abdulkadir Noor stipulating that: a new 225 member bicameral parliament would be formed, consisting of an upper house seating 54 Senators as well as a lower house; 30% of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) is earmarked for women; the President is to be appointed via a constitutional election; and the Prime Minister is selected by the president, who would then name a council of ministers.

On 23 June, TFG and regional leaders approved a draft constitution after several days of deliberation. The National Constituent Assembly, which consists of 30 elders drawn from each of the country's four major Somali clans (Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Rahanweyn) and 15 from a coalition of minority groups based on the 4.5 power-sharing formula, overwhelmingly passed the new constitution on 1 August. 96% of the 645 delegates present voted for it, 2% against it and 2% abstained. To come into effect, it must be ratified by the new parliament.

Technical Selection Committee

On 18 August 2012, a list of 202 new parliamentarians was released, with a total of 215 legislators eventually sworn in on August 20. A further 15 nominated lawmakers were approved by the TSC, but verification of their paperwork was still pending before they could be officially sworn into parliament.

The remaining candidates that were submitted by the National Constituent Assembly's elders to the Technical Selection Committee (TSC) -- an independent body officially tasked with vetting the applicants -- were rejected for failing to meet specific criteria agreed upon by stakeholders that partook in earlier agreements, including the Galkayo and Garowe Principles accords. The minimal selection criteria required potential MPs to be Somali nationals possessing a "sound mind", to have at least a high school diploma, to be capable of carrying out parliamentary duties, and to have no reported links with warlords, rebels, armed groups and other potential spoiler elements. The TSC also based its screening procedure on detailed background information on the parliamentary candidates that was forwarded to it by the United Nations and African Union.

Defence Minister Hussein Arab Isse attributed the delays in the parliamentary selection process to more comprehensive vetting in order to avoid the allegations of corruption and nepotism that had been leveled at the previous administration. He added that "most people that are coming into the parliament are highly educated and highly motivated." Incumbent President Sharif Ahmed likewise stated that the TSC "was given certain criteria to vet names presented to them. They don't have a right arbitrarily, to choose those on the list and who to reject[...] If there's a problem, members of the technical committee should go back to the council of elders, but it is unacceptable for them to overstep their mandate."

According to Al-Jazeera correspondent Nazanine Moshiri, although 30% of the parliamentary seats were nominally set aside for female legislators, this apportionment met some resistance from local elders, who felt that it was not in keeping with Somalia's traditional culture. Women's rights groups, however, insisted on the figure. As of August 20, 2012, only 16% of the earmarked seats had reportedly been issued.

The new parliament is eventually expected to consist of 275 MPs in the lower house and a future upper house capped at 54 representatives.

Speakership and Deputy Speakership elections

On 20 August 2012, former Somali National Army (SNA) General Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle was appointed Interim Speaker and Acting President. Voting for a new Speaker of Parliament was held on August 28, 2012, with former Minister of Transportation and Minister of Labor and Sports Mohamed Osman Jawari elected the permanent Speaker. Jaylaani Nur Ikar and Mahad Abdalle Awad were later appointed First and Second Deputy Speakers, respectively.

Parliament is now assigned the duty of electing a new president.

Presidential election commission

The presidential elections were originally slated to be held on 20 August 2012, a day which, according to UN Special Envoy Mahiga, marked the "legal end" of Somalia's transitional period. However, legislators later rescheduled the voting in order to complete the remaining MP selections, as all 275 parliamentarians are required for the ballot to take place. The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Godah Barre, stated that the election would be held in two weeks time, with a definite date expected to be announced.

On 30 August 2012, the federal parliament convened and unanimously endorsed a new committee tasked with overseeing the presidential elections. At the parliamentary session chaired by the Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari, 15 MPs were named to the body, with former acting Speaker Muse Hassan Abdulle appointed as the commission's chairperson.

At a press conference on 1 September 2012, the electoral commission released a ten-point set of criteria against which all prospective candidates for president would be screened. Among the cited conditions were that presidential hopefuls should be at least 40 years of age, a Muslim, and have no criminal history. Candidates are also required to pay a $10,000 registration fee and must have secured at least 20 supporters in parliament prior to running for office.

Candidates

Although no official figures were released, it was estimated that between 20 to 40 candidates were reportedly intent on participating in Somalia's 2012 presidential elections. The latter included a few incumbent government officials, such as President Sharif Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. Other prominent candidates included former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, former Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi, journalist Yusuf Garaad Omar, social activist Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, and professor Ahmed Ismail Samatar. However, as of 1 September, 2012, the total number of hopefuls permitted to take part in the presidential race ultimately depended on which of the prospective candidates met the presidential election commission's set of minimum prerequisites.

Campaigning

Presidential hopefuls launched city-wide campaigns ahead of the elections to promote their candidacy, complete with billboards, posters and flyers. They also organized rallies in what constituted another new development not seen in years. For safety reasons, a few potential favorites chose instead to maintain a low profile.

Reception

According to Al-Jazeera, despite delays in the parliamentary selection procedure, there was an overall mood of optimism in Mogadishu ahead of the elections. Although the swearing-in ceremony for new legislators was held in the city's main AMISOM-guarded airport base, this marked the first time in twenty years that presidential elections would be held in the capital due to a generally improved security situation. In this atmosphere of increased territorial gains made by the Somali army and its AMISOM allies, Somali expatriates have also returned to invest in the country, hoping that the new government can complete the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process.

Key partners of the Somali government within the international community, including the UN, released statements asserting that the elections represent a momentous opportunity for more peace and stability. A jointly-issued statement from the European Union, the United States government and other global partners indicated that "the conclusion of the Transition should mark the beginning of more representative government in Somalia[...] Whilst parliament remains a selected rather than elected body, it is essential that it cuts its ties with the past of self-interest and warlordism, and is populated by a new generation of Somali politicians, including the proper representation of Somali women." Similarly, the UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said that "this historic moment marks the long-awaited end of the transitional period in Somalia. The new MPs, selected after broad-based, grass roots consultations and representing all of Somalia's clans, have been successfully screened against objective criteria and are now ready to start their important work." In statements released on behalf of the AU, the UN, the EU and IGAD, Alexander Rondos, the European Union's special representative to the Horn of Africa, likewise remarked that "the international community welcomes the important progress that Somalia's leaders and people have made in getting to this stage."

Voting

On 10 September 2012, parliament voted for Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud as the new President of Somalia. After the first round of voting, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed emerged as the frontrunner, amassing 64 votes. Mohamoud was a close second at 60 votes. Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali placed third with 32 votes, but later dropped out ahead of the second round along with the fourth place finisher Abdiqadir Osoble. Mohamoud went on to earn a lopsided win in the final round, defeating Sharif Ahmed by a 70% margin (190 votes vs. 79 votes).

In his victory speech, President Mohamoud thanked the general Somali populace, the Federal Parliament as well as the other challengers. He also expressed support for the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Somalia and indicated that he was prepared to work closely with the international community.

Additionally, Sharif Ahmed congratulated Mohamoud on his win and avered that he would cooperate with the new President. Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, President of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia, also thanked Mohamoud, the Somali people, and all of the other stakeholders that were involved in the Roadmap political process, which ultimately led toward the presidential election and the end of the transitional period.

References

President 2012 Category:2012 elections in Africa Category:2012 in Somalia