Parliamentary election held to select Somalia’s presidential candidate.
Somalia is a politically unstable African state. There are constant clashes between Islamist terrorists, separatist insurgents and Somali government forces.
If a presidential election had been held, there would have been attacks by Islamist terrorists or separatists, so the election of the president was held in secret by members of parliament. Western nations have accused this of further deteriorating democracy in Somalia.
Former President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud was sworn in as the new president. Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, 66, also held the presidency from 2012 to 2017.
The polls were held safely in a military base. Even during the election, a series of bombings rocked the capital, Mogadishu.
(AFP)
