Somalia: Militants Protest in Beledweyne Against Jesow’s HOP # 030, claiming the seat cannot be reserved for an individual and they need free and fair election process for the seat.

Armed militias staged a protest in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran region after they reported that Hir-Shabelle regional administration reserved HOP # 030 for MP Dahir Amin Jesow who had been sitting the seat for quite some time.

The head of the protesting militia say the community that owns the seat wants open competition between the long-serving lawmaker and other candidates who showed Thier interest in the seat.

“We are standing here to free the reserved HOP # 030 seat for Jesow. We are not making our brother an enemy. He has represented us a lot and we have not received real representation. Reserving the seat for him will not be a solution,” said one of the militants.

Another militia leader said the future of the seat was in the hands of the clan, accusing the President of Hir-Shabelle, his deputy and the Speaker of Parliament of being behind the reservation of the seat.

“Dahir Amin Jesow does not belong to this seat and it belongs to the community. This community free and fair election process to run for office. He has been in office for 12 years. This seat is too big for him let him resign or run for office but we will not accept Fahad With me, I went to Ali Gudlawe and there is no one in your pocket who will accept you, ”said a leader of the Rebel militia.

The vice president of Hir-Shabelle region Yusuf Dabaged said that the list of MPs for their constituencies in Beledweyne will be released by the people they want to represent.