Somalia Delays Senate Elections
Somalia decides to postpone Senate elections after they were scheduled to be held today.
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Somalia delays Senate elections due to the civil unrest within the country
Somalia delays the Senate elections that were scheduled for Sunday after being postponed several times over the many disturbances the country is facing, according to AFP.
It was scheduled for a long electoral process to start Sunday, beginning with the Senate elections and ending on October 10 with the presidential elections, as per the official schedule.
"Although the program was that the election of the upper house (Senate) begins today across the different states, there is a delay, the election should not be held," confirmed a member of the election commission to AFP.
The source added that the federal state's regions have failed to submit the list of candidates who will participate in the polls on time or to form the local committees that will vote.
Federal government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu told AFP on Sunday that the elections were "delayed," but the process would continue.
Last week, the pro-Al-Qaeda "Youth Movement" warned politicians in a voice message against participating in the much-delayed elections.
Since 2007, the movement has been carrying out offenses to overthrow the federal government, often against government and security headquarters, as well as civilians.
