Somalia’s Opposition Boycotts Parliamentary Elections

Somalia opposition

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s opposition on Tuesday announced boycotting the ongoing parliamentary elections, citing allegations of widespread fraud and manipulation, days after a number of candidates said they had been blocked from running for seats.

In a statement issued after meeting between members of the Council of Presidential Candidates, the conglomerate of opposition parties warned that it will not standby idly while the government of president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo continues a “bold fraud” in the electoral process.

Similar warnings had led to clashes between rival factions of the army in the capital Mogadishu in April this year.

The opposition claimed that traditional elders representing clans were not given role in the process and soldiers had voted in elections for a number of seats as delegates.

The government has not immediately commented on the claims of the opposition council, which have come days after the president traveled to Qatar to garner financial support for his re-election bid.

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