Technocrats Are Eyeing Somalia Presidency; 2022 Elections Will Be Dynamic And Complex

 Somalia is scheduled to hold elections that have been delayed or disrupted by conflict. Somalia will need to complete presidential and legislative elections by March 15 after failing to meet the December 2020 deadline.

The upcoming elections have attracted old technocrats who were in previous administrations. Reportedly, just a few seats are remaining to fill up the 275-member Lower House. Ahead of the election, the presidential contest is shaping up as many leaders expressed their desire to join the race for the presidency of Somalia.

This week, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke expressed his intention to run for the presidency of Somalia. He is the former prime minister of the country. Sharmarke was also an ambassador to the United States. His former boss, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is also in the race for the presidency.

Reportedly, former presidents, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as well as former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire are among the top candidates challenging President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo. Farmaajo is running to defend his seat in the upcoming election. 

According to The East African, Somali technocrats said that they want to take over the politicians and correct their errors. Jamal Ahmed, a former diplomat who worked at the regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), revealed his intention to contest for the Somali presidency. He declared his candidature at the start of March.

Ex-Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak also wants to run for the presidential election. He served as Somalia’s foreign minister until November 2021. 

Somalia election

Somalia maintains an indirect electoral system in which 54 senators are elected by five state assemblies and 275 members of Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament are elected by delegates nominated by elders. They will be assigned to vote for a president on a secret ballot. The senate selection process was completed in November 2021.