Why Somalia cannot hold democratic election any soon

UNSOM PHOTO: Presidential elections are held in Somalia on 15 May 2022.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - With Somalia expected to hold an election in 2026, the government expressed concerns over Al-Shabaab's threat to efforts to move the country out of the "clan system".

For over five decades, Somalia has not managed to subject citizens to universal suffrage polls, making it difficult for them to pick the leaders of their choice due to the conflict, piracy, terrorism, and political crisis.

Federal Interior Minister Ahmed Fiqi still maintains that the country will struggle to hold elections in 2026, noting that the Al-Shabaab militants have been the reason why democratic polls face challenges in the country. According to him, the militants still control huge chunks of Somalia.

Millions of Somalis, he said, are still under Al-Shabaab control and thus cannot cast their votes in ballot boxes while it threatens retribution for anyone in government-controlled towns for participating in the vote.

Fiqi is optimistic that the government will elminate Al-Shabaab in this year from the remaining areas and hold a popular vote in all regions. There are other factors, including completion of the constution that still remain an obstacle to the 1P1V polls. 

For the last seven months, the Somali National [Army] has managed to liberate several strategic towns across the country from the militants and the federal government has embarked on the process of restoring civilian administration in the country. 

Recently, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti pledged to dispatch more soldiers to the country for the sake of helping the military and peacekeeping mission troops to neutralize the militants further. On the other hand, the government is also monitoring Al-Shabaab's revenue sources with the aim of sealing all loopholes.

Already, Al-Shabaab militants have started leaving areas they used to control as the government takes over. The second phase of eliminating the militants through sophisticated operations will be launched during this month of Ramadan according to senior Villa Somalia security advisors.

GAROWE ONLINE