Live-video: Three MPs in second round of Somali elections

Two former presidents and a former prime minister are now through to the next round of a presidential election, which has been met with repeated postponements due to security fears.

MENA

2 min read

Robert Cusack

08 February, 2017

The Somali lawmakers voted for a new leader of Somalia under tight scrutiny [Anadolu]

Somali lawmakers gathered to vote for a new president at Aden Adde airport near Mogadishu on Wednesday, following numerous delays and postponements.

The first round of voting concluded after nearly two hours of voting at around 12pm GMT, with a total of 329 members of parliament casting their vote.

Four MPs were chosen out of 21 to go through to the second round, before a president is chosen from the final two MPs in the third round of voting.

The four MPs include the current president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the current Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, former Prime Minister Mohammed Abdullahi Farmaajo and former President Shariif Sheekh Ahmed.

Omar Sharmarke subsequently pulled out of the running half an hour after the results were announced however, as he received the smallest number of votes.

The African Union's [AU] peace-keeping force in Somalia, AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces have announced an increased security presence across the country to minimise the threat of attacks from the Islamist group al-Shabaab.

"In addition to ensuring security, the AU joins the international community as election observers, reiterating unwavering support for Somalia," a statement from AMISOM said.

All major roads have been closed and a total traffic ban has been enforced in Mogadishu ahead of the vote. All flights in and out of Aden Adde airport have been cancelled.

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AMISOM reports a high-level of scrutiny and independent monitoring at this year's elections to improve trust in the results.

The AU's special representative to Somalia, Francisco Madeira, is responsible for witnessing the election, with other members of the international community.

According to the rules of the election, no-one in the election room is allowed to carry a mobile phone of any kind or cash in excess of $200.

Sixteen of the 21 candidates standing for presidential election hold foreign passports, reported local media service Wakiil, including nine American, four British and three Canadian passports.

Follow a live video feed of the election here: