Somalia concludes senate polls aftet close to four months
GOOBJOOG NEWS|DHUSAMAREB: The three months long elections for the Upper House in Somalia came to a close on Saturday with the election of the last two senators.
Galmudug State Parliament elected Senator Abdi Awale Qaybdiid and Mahad Aden Guled bringing to a close the exercise which began in July 29.
The election of the two Senators now fills up the 54 member chamber of the Uppet House.
The Federal Member States however missed the 30% threshold for women by six per centage points. Out of the 54 seats, women occupy 13 of them translating to about 24%.
The exercise was marked by mass withdrawal of candidates especially in Puntland and Galmudug States. Allies of the FMS leaders secured elections in most FMS.
Hirshabelle however broke ranks with other FMS widening up the pool of candidates to include both opposition and pro-government candidates.
The conclusion of the Senate elections now turns the spotlight to the clans which are expected to the remaining 273 MPs.
The Somaliland caucus has since elected two MPs.