The appointment of a new president in Somalia has been pending for more than a year. The closure of the lower house elections is imperative for the election of a new president. After completing the elections to the upper house by the end of 2021,it was agreed to complete the election cycle for the lower house, which began by 25 February. The deadline to complete elections for the lower house of parliament was extended last month to 15th March
Though the federal states of South West and Galmudug concluded the election of their representatives, 40 of the 275 seats in the lower house remained to be filled in three states (Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Puntland), according to reports. As a result, Somalia’s electoral process has again got delayed.
Somalia has a complex system, where federal-state assemblies and delegates representing multiple clans and sub-clans choose lawmakers who then appoint the president. The Government has so far made no announcements about its plan.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has been president since 2017 till February 2021. A consensus with regional leaders on the organisation of elections could not be reached before his term ended. The announcement of an extension of two years term for the President triggered violent clashes in the capital. To alleviate the protests, Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, was given the responsibility of organising the elections. But tensions between the two men delayed the process.
International community has raised its concerns about the repeated postponements and the delay in the election of a new leader. The United States imposed visa restrictions after the 25 February postponement against key figures for undermining the democratic process in Somalia.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that financial aid to the country, scheduled to end automatically in May, was at risk if a new government is not in place by then.
Read More ;
https://trendsnafrica.com/imf-aid-to-somalia-may-end-if-elections-are-delayed/
https://trendsnafrica.com/somalias-election-process-kicked-off/
