August 19, 2012
Somalia's Technical Selection Committee (TSC) named 202 new parliamentarians on Saturday (August 18th), AFP reported.
"We have 202 members readied now and we are working on the reviewing of 40 others that were passed today," said Committee Co-Chair Halimo Yarey. The parliament is expected to elect Somalia's new president on Monday, the final day of the Transitional Federal Governments' mandate, provided a quorum of 184 members is met.
The parliament will eventually have 275 lawmakers. "The rest of the list is still pending because of inter-clan argument and other reasons related to a lack of fulfilment of the conditions," Yarey said.
The committee is choosing members from a list provided by 135 tribal elders from around the country. Roughly 70 candidates have been disqualified for failing to meet the requirements for parliamentary service, such as a high-school diploma and lack of connections to warlords.
Under the 4.5 quota, parliament will include 61 lawmakers from each of the four major Somali clans -- Darod, Dir, Hawiye and Rahanweyn -- and a further 31 from a coalition of minority groups.
The government of Somalia's Puntland region issued a statement on Saturday condemning interference with the work of the TSC.
"We call on all concerned parties to respect the neutrality, independence and discretion of the TSC," the statement said, applauding the committee for its works so far.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said in a statement on Friday that spoilers in the Somali peace process would face punitive sanctions from his government, Kenya's Capital FM reported.
"We wish to send a clear warning to all those intent on derailing, undermining or manipulating the Roadmap towards a permanent political settlement after August 2012 that Kenya will not tolerate such actions," Kibaki said. He said Somalia's security is essential for the security of Kenya and Africa, reiterating his government's support for Somalia in the next phase.
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