Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Somali presidential election delayed again to January 2017

MOGADISHU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's presidential election, scheduled for Dec. 28, has been postponed again to January 2017 as a result of disputes over the lower and upper house elections, officials said Monday.
Sources close to the National Leaders Forum, which includes President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, senior officials and state leaders, said the election will be held in January 2017, however "there is no exact date for conducting the election."

Members of the lower and upper houses of the new federal parliament is expected to take oath of office on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu, according to a statement issued on Dec. 24 by the National Leaders Forum.

This is the fourth time that the presidential election, initially set in September, has been delayed.

Somalis have expressed concern on the social media over the continued delays, which have happened despite pressure from the international community.