Somalia’s presidential poll committee elects chairperson

Newly formed presidential election committee has elected Abdirahman Duaale Bayle as the chairperson of the committee which will oversee the election of new president.

Bayle who is a former minister foreign affairs will the member till the election of Somalia’s top office takes place.

Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag was named as the deputy chair.

Committee formed two subcommittees including security, finance and logistics subcommittee which will be led Jawahir Ahmed Elmi and candidates registration subcommittees which will be headed by Osman Haji Ali.

The committee is expected set the date for the presidential poll in the forthcoming hours.

The Lower House which currently has 268 members out of 275 and the Senate which is one member short of the constitutionally mandated 54 will jointly elect new president.

Presidential candidates will be required to deposit $30,000 fee each to be enrolled for the race.

Over 20 candidates will be contesting for the contest in attempts to unseat President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who will also be defending his seat.