MOGADISHU, Somalia- The presidential aspirants are set to participate in a televised debate sessions on Monday in the capital Mogadishu ahead of Wednesday’s ballot, Garowe Online reports.

During the sessions, presidential candidates will be questioned about their political manifesto for the coming 4 years and how they are intending to tackle Somalia’s challenges including security, economy and governance.

The chairman of Presidential Election Committee, Abdirahman Duale Ba’yle said the live presidential debate will be conducted for one day to address the Parliament and public ahead of the poll on February 8. 

The sessions will be aired live in the morning and afternoon for two batches, and reported that caretaker President Hasan Shaikh Mohamed and caretaker Prime Minister Omar Abdirashed Sharmarke both are scheduled for the afternoon session.

The morning session will see former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, former Somali President, Sharif Shaikh Ahmed and Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame participating among other candidate in the live debate session. 

The much-awaited presidential election is set to conclude this week following continuous delays to meet deadlines last year over deadlock in the parliamentary election in the regional states. 

GAROWEONLINE