Somali police force commander Major General Asad Oman Abdullahi (Diyaano) announced for the first time that the police are totally ready for the upcoming one-person, one-vote elections.
This electoral process upon which the police leadership claims to have readiness is still very controversial. While the federal government insists that such elections must happen nationwide, the opposition considers it to be a flawed process with hidden political agenda.
The remarks were made in a weekly meeting held last night under his chairmanship at Police Headquarters, attended by police top brass and departmental heads of independent units.
The meeting focused on strengthening national security and curbing terrorist activities, with the police force assuring that they would execute their responsibility for the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections.
The police chief also directed the officers to remain alert against extremists who target the civilian population. He raised an additional appeal for public support to the security forces in reporting suspicious individuals and happenings for rapid response.
In spite of the government’s efforts spearheaded by Villa Somalia to have one-person, one-vote elections, many view the current security and political situation in the country as being incapable of such a system. It seems, however, that much of the country continues to remain in the hands of insurgent fighters in the form of Al-Shabaab, thus posing a traditionally difficult question on the viability of conducting a public opinion poll and the transparency therein; a process that other critics claim is being foisted by one politically interested faction.