Hiiraan Online
Monday May 2, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somalia’s parliament ruled out a new proposal by the government to delay the forthcoming presidential election for two more months, saying that the election will go ahead as planned.
The country’s cabinet minister approved the plan on Saturday, saying that the extension would allow it to fix any possible technical challenges that may come in its way before the elections which is due to take place in September this year.
Responding to the proposal submitted by Somali prime minister Omar Abdirashid on Saturday, Somali legislators voted against his bid, reiterating that elections would be held in time as opposed to December, a period proposed by the government.
In the meantime, the horn of Africa nation is preparing for presidential elections which would see the incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud facing dozens of candidates running for the country’s top seat mid this year.
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively.
Somalia’s government which proposed the election this year had however dismissed the likelihood of holding popular elections due to security challenges.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group continues to carry out violent attacks across Somalia by carrying out guerrilla attacks including suicide attacks and assassinations.
The international community which is spearheading efforts aimed at restoring peace and order into the Somalia which is recovering from decades of war mandated the current government to lead the countryinto general elections following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a new parliament and the adoption of a new constitution in 2012.