The much-awaited Somalian elections have been pushed again to a new date by the country's electoral commission.
The Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) which last week said that the Upper House elections will begin on Dec. 26, 2020 released a new election time table stating that from Jan. 7-14 next year, the election of the Upper House members will kick-off.
The electoral commission also noted that Jan. 5 was set as the deadline for the registration of all candidates of the Upper House.
Today, @SOSCVSomalia participated in Somali National Youth Conference with the theme of this year "strengthening patriotism”.
— SOS Children's Villages Somalia (@SOSCVSomalia) December 27, 2020
The conference will focus on the role of the youth on #governance, #peacebuilding, #socialdevelopment and #elections. pic.twitter.com/wQxEQSH3tK
According to Somalia’s Goobjoog news, the new timetable notes that “the election of members of parliament will be between February 9 and 21[next year] which will subsequently be followed by the election of a new president in March”.
Somalia had set another election timetable in September 2019 but also failed to kick-off. Somalia’s opposition has maintained it will boycott the elections, demands reforms and raised concerns about the election commission and its capacity to hold a free, fair and credible vote.
Somalia missed a deadline to hold parliamentary elections Dec. 1 as agreed by the federal government and six regional states earlier this year.
As divided politicians wrangle over upcoming elections and who will occupy the top seat, young people from across #Somalia came together to play peacefully. pic.twitter.com/5Fz6xh83FE
— Moulid Hujale (@MoulidHujale) December 27, 2020
As many as 14 presidential candidates urged an overhaul of the electoral commission in September.
They also demanded the resignation of intelligence chief Fahad Yasin accusing him of election interference.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
