Friday, August 19, 2016
Federal and Regional leaders of Somalia after the conclusion of the National Leadership Forum held in Mogadishu on 12 April 2016, which dealt with the 2016 electoral process, among other issues. UN Photo/Omar Abdisalan
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council says it regrets a delay in presidential and parliamentary elections in Somalia and is calling on all parties to implement the new calendar without delay.
The council stressed in a presidential statement approved by all 15 members and read at an open meeting Friday that Somalia should adhere to a political roadmap to reach one-vote, one-person elections by 2020.
Elections had been scheduled in August, before the term of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud runs out.
But Somalia's electoral commission chief, Omar Mohamed Abdulle, announced on Aug. 7 that parliamentary elections have been delayed until between Sept. 24 and October 10, with a new speaker chosen on Oct. 25.
The election of a new president will take place afterwards, on Oct. 30, Abdulle said.