Somalia: Presidential candidates snub first live-TV debate

Hiiraan Online
Monday February 6, 2017

Mogadishu (HOL) - The overwhelming majority of Somali presidential candidates have skipped live- TV debates, the first of its kind of Somalia just two days ahead of polls.

The debates were held in two sessions, morning and afternoon, to accommodate the 24 presidential hopefuls. Yusuf Hassan, a veteran journalist, was the moderator. However, only three of twelve candidates showed up for the morning session. Ahmed Mohamed Abdi, Zakariya Mohamed Haji Abdi and Bashir Rage were the only candidates who showed up. The afternoon debates were more lively with six candidates. This, after the candidates walked out in protest of a previously scheduled debate because of a nationwide internet blackout and lack of diverse media coverage.

The absence of candidates was not lost on the millions of Somalis watching the live event around the world who questioned why those tapped as front runners in the race for presidency skipped the debates.

“These candidates are spending hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars campaigning to Parliamentarians, but will not even argue their platform and plans in front of the Somali people who they are beholden to,” said Ahmed Farah, a Somali businessman who spoke with HOL. “The whole process (election) has shown a similar pattern. If the people, not parliamentarians had a vote, I bet they would all show up."

The Somali government will Presidential elections in the capital on February 8th. Incumbent Hassan Sheikh Sharif is running to win a second term while 22 other candidates, including former President Sheikh Sharif, PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and former PM Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo) are aiming to be Somalia’s next President.

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