State to provide security for Presidential candidates- Federal electoral body
The Federal Government will provide security for all presidential candidates in the upcoming poll throughout the campaign period, the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team, FIEIT, said Thursday.
The electoral body also assured opposition candidates the electoral process will be free and fair and that all candidates will be accorded equal and fair chance during the elections which are slated for October 30.
The electoral team made the commitment following a one day meeting in Nairobi with opposition presidential candidates who have raised concerns regarding President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s extended stay in as recipe for compromised polls.
President Mohamud’s constitutionally mandated term ended September 10 this year by the National Leadership Forum which is made up the President himself, Prime Minister, House Speaker and heads of regional administrations extended his stay until a new president comes to office after the October 30 elections.
Speaking to Goobjoog News after the meeting, former Somalia ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Americo said the FIEIT chair Omar Abudlle had assured them the process will be fair and transparent.
“He assured us the process will be free and fair to all candidates. We also agreed that the Federal Government will provide security to all the presidential candidates,” said Americo.
The nature and scope of security is however not clear.
Americo said the electoral body also gave them a green light to deploy their observers in all the electoral station countrywide during the polls which will start September 24 with the election of Lower House members.
The meeting follows a similar one two days ago between opposition party leaders and members of the international community in Mogadishu. The leaders did not however disclose any information concerning the talks.
Leaders present during today’s meeting include former Prime Ministers Farmajo Mohamed Abdullahi, Abdiweli Ahmed, Ali Mohamed Geedi among others.