Somalia delays its presidential election by a month

Tuesday September 27, 2016

File:The outgoing Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Somalia is pushing back its upcoming presidential election by a month amid concerns by the international community, which has called on all parties to implement the electoral calendar without delay.

This Horn of Africa country has been trying to rebuild after establishing its first functioning central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and plunged the impoverished nation into chaos.

The chairman of the electoral commission, Omar Mohamed Abdulle, says the presidential election will now take place on Nov. 30, while parliamentary elections will be from Oct. 23 to Nov. 10.

Election challenges include security, as homegrown extremist group al-Shabab remains a threat.

Al-Shabab has increased attacks on military bases across parts of south and central Somalia in recent months and still stages assaults in the capital.

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