Mogadishu (SD) – Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamud Guled Khadar has strongly condemned a joint statement issued by several candidates for the presidency of Somalia.

Somalia’s Presidential candidates today in a statement criticized the selection process for the 2020/21 electoral commission and warned of a political instability.

Candidates also objected to the federal election commissions appointed by Prime Minister Roble and said they included security officials and members of President Farmajo’s election campaign.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mahdi Guled described the candidates’ statement as “surprising” and said it showed a lack of confidence, despair and frustration.

“I was shocked by an statement from officials who are vying for the presidency in the 2020/21 election. The statement, which was criticizing the Electoral Commission, showed distrust, despair and frustration.” Said the deputy PM.

“I did not understand the difference between the Federal and Somaliland Electoral Commissions in 2016 and 2020, both of which featured Somali boys and girls working in both offices.” Mahdi added.

Mahdi appears to have politically overpowered the speaker of the upper house Abdi Hashi, who’ve claimed the right to appoint the northern regions election committees.