Somalia registering presidential aspirants with $40,000 amid drought

The election is marred by vote-buying and massive fraud comes as the country is facing a severe drought that put nearly half of the population [12 million] at risk of famine after three years of failed rains.

News Keydmedia Online
8 May 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Day after the joint parliamentary committee in charge of organizing the presidential election in Somalia made the announcement of a new date, candidates began to register.

As many as ten presidential aspirants paid the fee for participation in the presidential election which is $40,000 USD on Sunday at the Senate HQs, including ex-leader Sheikh Sharif who will vie for the presidency.

The deadline for registering as a candidate is Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday this week.

Incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and about twenty other aspirants had expressed interest in running in the May 15 presidential election which has been delayed several times since 2021.

The reason for the postponements was the result of Farmajo's attempt to extend his term by two more illegal years in early last year.

The 329 members of the two houses of parliament will elect the president next week at Afisyoni tent in the vicinity of the airport under the protection of African Union troops [ATMIS] and Somali police.

Al-Shabaab fired mortars at the hangar as the MPs take their oaths of office on April 14 with no casualties. This raised fears that the militants could carry out assaults during the presidential election.

The election is marred by vote-buying and massive fraud comes as the country is facing a severe drought that put nearly half of the population [12 million] at risk of famine after three years of failed rains.

“The threat of famine is very real in Somalia urgent action is needed now to avoid a catastrophe,” UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.

War-torn Somalia has last endured famine in 2011 and only narrowly avoided it in 2016-2017, thanks to prompt humanitarian intervention.

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