Somalia’s presidential elections were scheduled for November 30, but the head of Somalia’s electoral body announced Monday they will be postponed.
In the country’s complicated election system, clan and regional delegates have elected roughly 50 percent of the members of the lower and upper houses of parliament.
The presidential election cannot take place until the remaining parliament members are selected. So it will take some more time before lawmakers determine Somalia’s next president, as specified in the Provisional Federal Constitution.
Nairobi-based Somalia affairs commentator Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad says he understands the ongoing “selection process” must be rescheduled, but argues that it should happen soon.
“If the current selection process failed to conclude for the next 15 days, then legitimacy of the head of state, legitimacy of the members of parliament, legitimacy of the members of the senate will be in question,” said Abdisamad.
The head of Somalia’s electoral body said Monday the new president will be elected before the end of the year.