Somalia again delays presidential elections

Somalia's presidential elections slated for Wednesday will now be held before the end of December on unspecified date, the country's electoral committee chairman said.

The Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) chairperson Omar Mohamed Abdulle said the new date will be announced after the committee meets with lawmakers.

"The exact dates of the presidential election are not known," Abdulle told journalists in Mogadishu on Monday evening. He added that the election of the new president will take place on the attainment of 184 seats in the lower chamber of the federal parliament.

"Presidential election will not be held on the original date because Lower House elections have not been completed but it must happen before the new year, some regional states completed the process of the elections while others are close to end next week," he added.

The Horn of Africa nation's delegates representing clans are currently choosing the lawmakers, who in turn will select the new president from more than 10 candidates, including incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.

Somalia is currently short of attaining the 184 seats by just six members. However elections for the Lower House continue in four states, namely HirShabelle, Galmudug, Puntland and South West states. Jubbaland state concluded elections of Lower House members last week.

"The quorum or the minimum number of members of parliament that will be able to sit and conduct business is 184. We have got 178 out of the 184 and the remaining 6 will be elected on Tuesday," Abdulle said.

"If that happens, Somalia will have a fully functioning parliament that can legislate, elect speakers and can also announce the exact dates for the speakers' and presidential elections."

According to the electoral body, newly elected members of the Upper and Lower chambers of parliament will start collecting their certificates from FIEIT on Wednesday. Endit