Somali prime minister Mohamed Roble has called on the country’s regional governments to expedite the election of new federal senators after a missed electoral milestone Sunday.
Speaking during a video conference with the FMS presidents Sunday, Roble implored upon the regional leaders to fast-track the election of the senators.
The PM’s remarks followed failure by the state presidents to meet the July 25 timeline for the start of elections in the regional parliaments.
Only Southwest and Jubbaland states have appointed election teams while all the other regional governments including the Somaliland caucus are yet to name their teams.
According to the elections schedule, FMS presidents were supposed to submit the names of candidates for the senate race latest on July 24.
Reports from Jubbaland suggest that president Ahmed Madobe is likely to submit his list today.
Elections for senators were expected to conclude on July 28 to pave way for the election of members of parliament set to run from August 12 through to September 2.
A joint sitting of the Federal Parliament will elect a new president on October 10 as per the electoral schedule.
