Somalia: Electoral team to begin preparations for 2016 polls

MOGADISHU, Somalia-Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) Chairman Omar Mohamed Abdulle (Degey) has spoken to reporters about upcoming preparations for national polls expected to be held later this year, Garowe Online reports. 

Mr Degey’s press briefing on Monday marks the first as fears of poll delay continue to surface over failure to meet the timetable agreed by Somali political leaders during political talks in southwestern Baidoa town on June 25. 

Somalia has only 19 days to go until the deadline for the selection of parliamentarians. 

The 22-member electoral implementation team was announced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last month. 

International diplomats and the federal electoral commission are meanwhile said to be working out a new timetable to be presented before Somali political leaders in Mogadishu leadership forum this week. 

“Our committee is independent, and I want to assure all presidential candidates of our full respect,” Degey told a news conference in Mogadishu. 

International community representatives have expressed their uneasiness over the delay in the country’s electoral process marred by disputes.   

The date for Presidential poll currently scheduled for 10th of September could be pushed back by some two months, diplomatic sources disclosed earlier on July 30.  

Moreover, the Upper House whose selection process is dependent on federal member states is slated to precede the Lower House.   

There have been fears that the country’s election preparedness would be adversely affected. Mogadishu talks are poised to be the last boon for technical and implementation details of 2016 elections.

GAROWEONLINE