Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble appointed a ministerial-level committee to verify complaints against some members of the Electoral Commissions of both regional and federal levels to ensure transparency in the coming elections.  The committee received complaints from 67 members of the electoral commission, promising to resolve the issues in accordance with 17 September agreement and other subsequent agreements that followed.

However, only half of the disputed members were replaced, raising questions about the transparency in the expected elections repeatedly said by the Somali prime Minister.

Among the disputed members who remain unchanged is Yonis Hassan Hussein known as (Yonis Alifow) of the HirShabelle State Electoral Commission, a civil servant who worked at the Villa Somalia but later moved to the Refugee and Displacement Agency and became Deputy Chairman.

He was also accused by the country’s civil servants commission for receiving double salary payments. In a letter dated on 21/05/2020 the Civil servants commission ordered Yonis Alifow to fully compensate and return 6,352.8 US dollars to the central bank of Somalia, which he illegally obtained.

Local media reports and intelligence info obtained by Horn Observer indicate interferences from Fahad Yasin, NISA Chief had spearheaded efforts to help Yonis Alifow to remain on the list of the electoral commission.

This follows a week after Somali Presidential Candidate Abdirahman Warsame has raised red-flag over what he termed 'poll process interference' as he accused Somalia's intelligence boss Fahad Yasin of horning in on vetting process of elections committees.

Abdirahman warned that the government is trying to line up some intelligence apparatus in the election committee, a worrying sign for the independence of the committee if confirmed and yet another setback of delays to implement the historic electoral agreement.

"We commend the Somali army and police chiefs for implementing the election agreement by not interfering in politics & elections. However, the intelligence chief is still meddling in vetting process of elections committees. There are still members of NISA in these committees.” Abdirahman Abdishakur, a presidential candidate said on twitter.

Similar concerns were raised by the Somaliland Political Council accusing the outgoing President Farmajo of interfering in the selection and reform of electoral commissions.