Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Sunday announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, reported Bloomberg.
On Thursday, a special parliamentary task force chosen to prepare for the much-delayed elections settled on May 15 this year as the date of the presidential election. The date coincides with Somalia’s Youth Day.
The elections, which were initially scheduled for March 2021, have been delayed for more than a year. At least 15 candidates had expressed intent to contest by Thursday.
According to the election commission’s rules, each candidate seeking to stand for the post of president will be required to register their candidacy between May 8 and 10. Those who fail to do so will not be able to contest the election.
So far, only one woman, former Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam, has expressed intention.
After registration, the applicants will be required to address a joint session of the two chambers of parliament on May 11 and 12.
In Somalia’s federal legislature, the Upper House (Senate) has 54 members while the Lower House has 275 members. These MPs sit in a joint session to vote for the president by secret ballot.
The presidential election candidates will be required to pay $40,000 in registration fees. Critics have argued that the fees lock out suitable contenders at the expense of moneyed politicians.
Each presidential candidate must be proposed by a minimum of 20 legislators or at least one federal member state.
Somalia has five federal member states including Jubbaland, Puntland, South West, Hirshabelle, and Galmudug.
The announcement of the presidential election comes after Somalia concluded parliamentary elections in April.
Somalia’s President Mohamed known as Farmajo, whose term in office officially ended on February 8, 2021, has been under pressure after the election date passed without resolution of issues related to how the vote would have been conducted in Somalia.
Last year, Farmajo attempted to extend his rule by decree, resulting in violent street battles in the capital, Mogadishu, as rival factions clashed. He appointed Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to seek consensus on a way forward following international pressure.
But, deadly violence and a feud between Somalia’s president and prime minister slowed down the voting process.
