Somalia: Former female refugee to run for president

As Somalia prepares for the 2016 presidential election, a former female refugee, Fadumo Dayib, has indicated her interest to be Somalia’s first female president.

Fadumo was born in Kenya, daughter of Somali parents. Her family was deported back to Somalia when she was very young, but when the civil war broke out she ended up in Finland.

She didn’t know how to read and write until the age of 14, she later went on to earn a masters degree in health care and public health. It was during her work with the United Nations that she realized she wanted to do more to help the people of Somalia.

The mother of four said she has already received death threats, but reiterated that nothing will stop her from running in the upcoming 2016 elections.

Somalia in October 2015 held its National Consultative Forum (NCF) in order to determine the format for the 2016 election.

The event came after international and Somali officials declared that the one person-one vote poll was not possible due to technical delays and insecurity .

The NCF was formed as a replacement body for the National Independent Election Commission.