Polls in Somalia’s upcoming elections represent another big step towards return to normalcy
UN envoy welcomes progress in preparations for elections in 2016. Many had high hopes when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected in September 2012 but he wasn’t voted in by the people since Somalia remains far too unstable for a popular vote. So he was chosen by other politicians and clan elders rather than by militia and at the time that was progress.
Mohamud has won some international support in his efforts to revive the country. He’s hoping that will help him win four more years.
“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after he was elected announced a six point plan major areas of concern that he promised to tackle among them justice, security, infrastructure and more. Not of all these have been achieved – he now wants a second term – will he come up with another agenda or will he repeat this same agenda”. Sharif Hussein Robow, Analyst
Among young people in Mogadishu, reaction is mixed.
There are few jobs here – and Mohamud’s done little to change that since 2012. Hundreds of youth die every year trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Voting for new MPs will be held in August and the clan elders are the only ones who get to vote. Then, those MPs in September will vote for a President. So most Somalis won’t get to make a choice. Even so, the elections represent another big step toward normalcy.
