Page 29 - Nile Explorer 10 Final-3-FINAL O-WITH NEW ALDO PHO COPY FOR PRINT

central bank, both of which answer to Will Somalia be ready for a
the government in Tripoli.
have stave off a Tripoli offensive by one-person one-vote election?
The UN, U.S. and other powers

negotiating a political agreement
between the two factions. Haftar’s
advisers said they didn’t trust Sarraj
to abide by a power-sharing deal that
would lead to elections, and accused
him of being beholden to militias and
extremists.
Haftar has the support of the main
tribes in the east and some cities in
the west, including Tarhouna, which
neighbors Tripoli. Sarraj’s government
is supported by militias in Tripoli
and in neighboring Misrata, and the
powerful forces of former defense
minister Osama al-Juwaili from Zintan.
Both sides increasingly rely on foreign Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
patrons.
omalia’s elections commission In a joint statement they supported
The U.A.E. and Egypt support Haftar, S(NIEC) postponed the country’s the new election, further emphasizing
whom theu consider as a reliable planed and long awaited parliamentary the need for further engagement by
strongman who could end Libya’s chaos. and presidential elections that had been all parties and stakeholders through
Matters are further complicated by scheduled for November by 13 months, dialogue in order to forge consensus
Tripoli’s suspected links with Islamist, citing the country’s security challenges. among Somalia’s political parties over
the election.
including the Muslim Brotherhood, The last time Somalia had a universal Somalia joins the league of country’s that
which many Arab countries consider suffrage election was in 1969. This was cannot hold elections – not because of
subversive. followed by decades of dictatorship, civil the coronavirus as in the case of Ethiopia
war and relentless terrorist attacks. but because of preparatory challenges,
Turkey under President Recep Tayyip The new date announced by the the elections chief has disclosed.
Erdogan embraces the Muslim Chairperson electoral commission, According to National Independent
Brotherhood and has enjoyed good Halimo Ismail is August Aug. 2021. Electoral Commission head, Halima
relations with Sarraj, something that Addressing lawmakers and journalists Ismail Ibrahim, the NIEC has ruled out
Egypt is uncomfortable with. in June, Halimo blamed it on “significant holding elections which were scheduled
technical and security challenges.” The to hold on November 27.
Reports indicate that Haftar’s military postponement was welcomed by the She told lawmakers that the earliest an
failures have disappointed his external international community including election could hold in the country was in
backers: the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations, the African Union March 2021. In her address to the lower
house of parliament, she presented two
France, Russia, and Egypt. They enabled Mission in Somalia, the European options – an election based on biometric
his military campaign to take control of Union, the U.S. and Britain. registration which would be possible
Tripoli, providing him with significant However, the Forum of National Parties in August 2021 or a manual-based
military and political support, with the opposition alliance, criticized the delay, registration that can be held in March
acquiescence of the United States. saying President Mohamed Abdullahi 2021.
Mohamed plans to unconstitutional The issue of a general election has
Russia sent in several hundreds of extend in term by postponing the been a thorny issue in Somalia with
Wagner mercenaries to reinforce elections. Some opposition leaders incumbent Mohammed Abdullahi
Haftar’s push into Tripoli: however, called for the leaders of the electoral Farmaajo expected to seek re-election.
The opposition, under the Forum of
the later withdrawal of Russian commission to step down. President’s National Parties opposition alliance
mercenaries (including Wagner and term expires on Feb. 8, 2021. lead by two former presidents, will be
Syrian, pro-Assad regime militias) from Somalia’s government depends on challenging him.
western Libya, may provide a timely international support in its long-lasting In February 2017 when the last elections
opportunity for the U.S., which has so battle against the Islamic extremist rebels for president were held, some 275 MPs
and 54 senators met in a hangar at the
far been a bystander to the conflict, to of al-Shabab, who are allied with al- Mogadishu International airport, in a in
Qaida. Al-Shabab controls large parts of
deter Turkey and Russia from openly southern and central Somalia and often the capital Mogadishu, in a fortified to
flouting the U.N. arms embargo on targets the capital with suicide bombings. choose between then incumbent Hassan
Libya and prevent Russia from moving The violence from the extremists would Sheikh Mohamud for a second term and
closer toward establishing a permanent make it difficult to hold election rallies 21 other rivals. Abdullahi Farmaajo won
in amid claims of corruption and vote-
footprint in the country. and voting, according to diplomats. buying.

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