International community welcomes plan to conclude Somali presidential polls this week

838

Somalia’s international partners has welcomed the announcement by the parliamentary organizing committee that the Somali presidential election will take place on Sunday 15th May 2022.

“We are encouraged by the positive progress in registering presidential candidates and other preparations for this electoral deadline to be met,” they said in a joint statement.

“There is no justification for any further delay. With both chambers of Parliament sworn in and fully functional, any outstanding electoral issue should be resolved by the duly elected parliamentary leaders”, they added.

The Somalia partners has urged Somalia’s leaders to conclude this final stage of the electoral process swiftly, peacefully and credibly so that attention can now turn to domestic and state-building priorities.

Thirty-two candidates have registered their candidacy for the Somali presidency, with 22 presidential hopefuls – including incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo – registering on Monday‎.

It is the highest number of presidential candidates in Somalia’s history.

BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI osmanhusseinke@gmail.com