Somalia extends deadline to complete parliamentary elections

By Mohammed Dhaysane

BAIDOA, Somalia (AA) – Somalia announced another extension in parliamentary elections, pushing the deadline to complete the vote to March 15.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble made the announcement after a virtual meeting with leaders of five federal member states late Thursday.

After multiple extensions, the parliamentary elections were decided to be completed by Friday.

The National Consultative Council acknowledged that lawmakers failed to meet the deadline because of drought, escalating security tensions in some constituencies, and a lack of funding, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

The parliamentary ballot began last November to elect members who, along with 54 senators, will choose a new president. So far, 184 out of 275 seats in the lower house have been filled.