Somalia’s parliamentary committee on Thursday announced the country will hold the long-awaited presidential election on Sunday, May 15, reported Reuters.
“In consideration with the current circumstances of the country, the members agreed 15 May to be the day for the election of the president,” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, a member of the parliament election committee, said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
329 lawmakers from both houses – 54 from the Senate or Upper House and 275 from the Lower House – will elect Somalia’s tenth president.
The committee tasked with organizing the long-delayed polls in the fragile Horn of Africa nation said the presidential candidates will address Parliament on May 11 and 12 on their policies ahead of the vote.
The announcement of the presidential election, which is already 15 months behind schedule, comes after Somalia concluded parliamentary elections in April.
Mohamed Abdullahi 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.
The selection of a president is crucial in establishing a new government, which must be in place by May 17 if Somalia wants to continue receiving budget support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on which it relies to pay essential bills.
Meanwhile, Somalia is also grappling with a worsening drought that threatens to drive millions into famine, with young children facing the greatest risk.
