​Somalia: Somaliland Elders want election venue moved to AMISOM base

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Elders hailing from Somaliland have demanded venue change of their constituency's Upper and Lower Houses elections in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, following intimidation and threats, Garowe Online reports. 

A letter signed by 11 Somaliland elders was sent to the country's Federal electoral commission, in which they demanded the election venue to be shifted to Halane compound, AMISOM's military base in Mogadishu. 

Somalia's outgoing Information Minister Mohamed Abdihayir Mareye was accused for interfering in the electoral process and intimidating the delegates who are assigned to cast votes among the parliamentary candidates.

According to a statement issued by caretaker Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, he accepted elders' decision to move the polling station from Police transport headquarter in Abdulaziz district to Halane base and requested Federal electoral commission to consider their demand.

Caretaker PM Sharmarke has recently opposed the arrest of Somaliland elder by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Mogadishu. Meanwhile, NISA has dismissed the accusation by the caretaker Prime Minster and distanced itself from the elder's arrest.

Somalia’s international partners have previously expressed concern over corruption, harassment and intimidation towards delegates and candidates in the electoral process and called Somali leaders-term ended in September 10- to take decisive actions to ensure credible elections.

GAROWEONLINE