Somalia: UN envoy reaches Jowhar for discussions over violence at election center

JOWHAR, Somalia- The Special Representative of the UN for Somalia Michael Keating and the Chairman of Federal electoral body, Omar Mohamed Abdulle “Dhagey”, have arrived Jowhar town, the administrative capital of Hirshabelle state, for talks with the state officials over the suspended Lower House election following violence, Garowe Online reports.

Yesterday, Somalia’s Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation team (FIEIT) has suspended the ongoing polling exercise for the Lower House chamber in Jowhar, until a proper security arrangement is set, after gun fighting flared up at the voting center that left 3 delegates injured on Friday.

The reports accused a parliamentary candidate and outgoing Sports and Youth Minister Mohamed Abdulahi Nuh’s security forces of attacking his opponents’ delegate following the first round of polling.

The UN chief is expected to hold talks with Hirshabelle President, electoral committee and security officials to defuse tensions and ensure security arrangement at the polling station to restart the Lower House election.

Reports said the Lower House election will resume on Wednesday in Hirshabelle region, as the Burundian troops serving with the African Union Peacekeeping troops in Somalia (AMISOM) will take over the security of the election centers in Jowhar.

International community has previously expressed concerns over intimidation and harassment in the Somali elections, whereas the country's Auditor General stated that ongoing parliamentary elections in the regional states to lack credibility due to widespread corruption, vote buying, fraud, intimidation and violence.

GAROWEONLINE