Sunday May 15, 2022
Ahead of Somalia’s Presidential election on Sunday,
international partners have called on Parliament “to discharge their
constitutional responsibility in the best interests of the country.”
“We urge the parliamentarians to vote their conscience
by choosing the candidate they believe offers the policies and leadership
qualities to advance peace, stability, prosperity, and sound governance in the
years ahead,” the partners said in a joint statement on Saturday.
The long-delayed presidential election is seen as the final
part of a lengthy electoral process that heightened tension in the Horn of
African country following the lapse of incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed’s term last year.
Electoral authorities registered 39 candidates, including
the incumbent and two former presidents.
Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, a legislator who once served as
Somalia’s foreign minister, is the only female candidate in the election.
Ahead of the vote, Somalia’s government announced a full
curfew in the capital, Mogadishu, covering traffic and people, from Saturday at
9pm (18:00 GMT) until Monday at 6am (03:00 GMT).
A candidate will win the election in the first round if they
secure two-thirds of the votes cast by the 329 legislators of the bicameral
parliament.
Experts however foresee more than one round of voting.
Xigasho: Hiiraan
