Somalia says it will hold a presidential election in May 2027

MOGADISHU, Oct 15 (Reuters) - ‌Somalia's electoral ​commission ​said on Thursday the Horn of Africa country will hold ‌a presidential election on May 15 next ⁠year.

• President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term was ‌due to end in ‌May this year, but in March lawmakers voted to enact constitutional changes that ​potentially extend his term by a year, a move that drew criticism ⁠from the opposition.

• Mohamud's government has struggled to defeat the ​al Qaeda-allied militant group al Shabaab, which has been fighting Somalia's central ​government for two decades.

• ‌While the military, backed by an African Union peacekeeping mission, ⁠has pushed back the militants, al Shabaab still controls vast areas of the countryside ⁠and has the ability to conduct regular strikes on ​major population centres.

• The electoral body's chairperson, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, made the announcement on the state ‌broadcaster and added that the country would also hold elections ‌for members of parliament for both the ⁠lower and upper ‌chambers on April ​15.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hugh ‌Lawson)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Trump says Zacharia should reconsider White House spokeswoman role
• Analysis-Indonesia faces rare MSCI exclusion that could cut it off from global capital
• US regional banks join bigger peers in signaling resilient economy as lending holds firm