No further polls delay, Somali president affirms

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud  has assured that presidential and parliamentary elections will be organized next November following the postponement of elections scheduled to start late last month.

“The elections will be held on schedule in November and the government is working to overcome all obstacles that might hinder them,” said Mohamud in an interview with Anadolu Agency.

Somalia postponed for the second time elections to choose new parliamentarians in the country following disagreement on how to select future members.

The country’s parliamentary elections have been pushed to October 23. The presidential vote has been rescheduled for November 30.

The United Nations Security Council expressed regret Thursday over the election delay.

“The organization of peaceful and transparent elections in Somalia represents a historic step for all Somalis and a turning point for progress towards democracy and stability in the country,” the UN said in a statement, urging all parties to “honor their commitments and to reach without delay an agreement on the policy challenges that lie ahead.”

Mohamud said the elections have been postponed due to technical reasons.

“Technical reasons may hinder holding presidential and parliamentary elections in the country that has not seen any election of this kind for nearly 47 years,” said the president.

The president refuted reports saying Al-Shabaab fighters would interrupt the upcoming elections.

“The security forces are ready to secure the presidential and parliamentary elections in the country, with the support of the AMISOM peacekeeping forces, and it would respond rigorously to any attempt to disturb holding of these elections.”

Al-Shabaab wants to overthrow internationally recognised Somali government.

The group vowed to disrupt Somalia’s upcoming elections which scheduled to take place later this year.