Election campaign kicks off in Somali capital amid Al-Shabaab threat 

The election of the speaker of the lower house is closely watched as this House consisting of 275 seats is more powerful than the 54-seat Upper House which was created in 2016, only serving a second term.

News Keydmedia Online
20 April 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Registration of candidates for the new parliament leadership started in Mogadishu on Tuesday, with the election expected to take place on the 26th and 27th of this month.

Candidates registering for the chairmanship are paying $ 20,000, while the deputy is $ 15,000, and candidates include Adan Madobe, who served as speaker of the 10th parliament from 2007 to 2010.

In both houses of parliament, the upper house will be elected on the 26th of this month while the lower house will be held on the 27th, according to the committee tasked with the management of the process.

The Federal Minister of Constitutional Affairs Salah Jama is among the contenders vying for Senate speaker, a seat is reserved for the politicians hailing from Somaliland based on the 4.5 formula.

The election of the speaker of the lower house is closely watched as this House consisting of 275 seats is more powerful than the 54-seat Upper House which was created in 2016, only serving a second term.

Mogadishu is witnessing a strong election campaign, with many candidates vying for the presidency, including Puntland state president Said Deni pouring into the capital. No date was set for the vote.

Somalia's elections slated for 2021 have been delayed by more than a year due to Farmajo's attempt to extend his term which sparked political wrangles which affected preparations for the parliamentary ballot.

There is a security threat after al-Shabaab twice attacked parliament in a week, threatening new MPs and candidates. There was an earlier warning from the intelligence agency, saying Al-Shabaab was plotting to assassinate the president and prime minister.

On Monday, April 18, at least nine people, including security guards and parliamentary staff, were hurt in a mortar attack on the presidential palace, where the two houses were holding a joint session to vote on the procedures and timetable of the elections.

KEYDMEDIA English