The Somalian government has reportedly delayed elections that were scheduled to begin on Sunday after months of delays, reported Africa News.
The government had previously agreed to begin indirect parliamentary and presidential polls on July 25 with four days of voting for the upper house by state delegates. The election cycle would have been completed with a presidential poll on October 10.
“Even though the plan was for the upper house election to start around the various states today, there is a delay, the election may not take place as planned,” a member of the electoral commission told AFP on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, the delay in the election was due to the fact that federal regions were neither able to submit candidates’ lists in time, nor to form local committees to cast the ballots.
Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, a spokesman for the Somalian government, told AFP that the elections were delayed, without providing details.
Moalimu said Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, who was tasked by the presidency with organizing the elections, had expressed his dissatisfaction to Somali state leaders.
The spokesman said that he “expressed how he is unhappy about the technical delays today.” He added that the premier had called for the acceleration of the process and resolves the technical issues and the leaders agreed to that.
Last week, the Al-Shabaab militants warned politicians against taking part in the elections. The audio message, recorded by al-Shabab leader Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah, underscores the security challenges facing the election process in the country. The militant group has been fighting to oust the federal Somalian government since 2007. It continues to target the government, security, and civilians in attacks.
The Somalian government’s failure to resolve the electoral impasse plunged the country into political chaos since President Mohamed Farmajo’s term ended on Feb. 8. It also resulted in violent clashes in Mogadishu.
