The United States has issued a second threat to Somali leaders in less than 24 hours, warning that elections in Somalia could take place on February 25th and not past that date.
The National Consultative Council conference in Mogadishu on January 9th agreed to hold parliamentary elections within 45 days, beginning January 15th and ending on February 25th.
“Somalia’s elections are on schedule a year later. “The United States stands ready to take action against any dissenters, unless the timetable of the National Consultative Council is adhered to,” The State Department said in a statement.
Yesterday, the US State Department spokesman Ned Price had made a similar threat.
“We call on federal and state leaders to adhere to the new timetable and correct any irregularities in the electoral process,” Ned Price said yesterday in a statement.
“Somalia’s elections are one year behind schedule. February 8 will be the first anniversary of the end of his presidency. The United States stands ready to use the resources available to it, including visa bans, to respond to any further delays, or other actions that may infringe on the integrity of the process. ”
Former Somali planning minister Abdirahman Ayante said US warnings of sanctions would directly affect election officials and those who caused delays, including outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
He said: “When the United States makes sanctions, it has a number of options, including sanctions on certain countries or individuals, some of which require visa restrictions, and will always depend on US foreign policy interests in the target country.”
