Analysis: National Consultative forum decision to expand Upperhouse members.

By Ahmed Abdihadi

The National Consultative Forum has concluded two weeks meeting in Mogadishu after-midnight on Sunday. The meeting was also presented by the UN and members of  International community and discussed key topics. The stakeholders agreed:

1.     Expanding Upperhouse members from 54 to 72.

2.     Allowing nullified and disqualified candidates to re-contest again.

3.     Regional state leaders will nominate the new added seats for the upper house and Federal President Hassan Sheikh will pass them by decree.

4.     Lowerhouse MPs should be sworn on 27. Dec.

                              Analysis

The meeting was one most important gathering for NLF since its birth. Regional States and Federal Government leadership unlike previous times were in same page. The Forum chastised dispute Resolution mechanism commission for their decision to disqualified and nullified 11seats. The UN, and International Community has taken strong stance not to let the National consultative forum make the work of Dispute Resolution Commission go in vain. One surprise decision by the forum is the expansion of Upperhouse to 18members. Somali provisional Constitution clearly states that Upperhouse members should be 54 members. 

These members will be equally distributed to 18 geographical regions of the country. The overnight decision to ignore the stipulation of the constitution and public opinion is manifestation of last four years work of Somali leadership.

The country has no active political parties, working judicial System, or political institution that can challenge the decisions of the Forum.  UN Special representative and some handful western countries left to make meaningful objections. We do not still have official response from UN or the American Embassy in Mogadishu. One predictable response is that if they accept the extra seats , they may challenge the methods. Elections should be uniform not arbitrary.

Another Development is that National consultative Forum still asserts to reversal the decisions of election commissions regarding 11 seats. most of disregarded eleven seats holder are either members of regional state leaders inner cycle or the Federal leadership. The Forum is committed to design elections of these seats in way of that current belligerent holder will be bound it again.