Somalia political leaders slate presidential polls for Dec 28

A new date has been set for the the controversial presidential elections in Somalia after being postponed thrice

According to the Associated Press, Somalia political leaders say the have agreed to hold the polls on December 28 but expect a new parliament to elect a speaker on December 22, before the parliament members elect a president on December 28.

The president is not elected by popular vote. At least 14,000 delegates selected by their clans elect parliament members who then elect the president.

Officials say voting for members of the upper house is almost complete while that for the lower house is just past the halfway mark.

The vote was postponed over disputes over the process, bribery and fraud allegations.

Opposition members insist that the ongoing process to elect law makers is marred by fraud in favour of the current administration’s hand-picked members.

The election delays have worried the international community which has expressed interest in having the polls carried out this year.

The delays magnify challenges of holding elections in the Horn of Africa country torn apart by war over the last 25 years, compounded by the threat of Al-shabaab Islamists and where clan rivalries dominate the political scene.