Somalia in lockdown as its elections get started

MOGADISHU: Voting started yesterday in Somalia’s groundbreaking presidential election amid a security lock down that has closed the capital’s international airport and cleared major streets.

Members of the upper and lower houses of the legislature dropped their ballots into clear boxes in the first round.

Fears of attacks by Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab have limited the election to the country’s legislators, who are voting at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu.

Years of warlord-led conflict and al-Shabaab attacks, along with famine, have left this Horn of Africa country of about 12 million people largely shattered.

In a sign of the dangers that remain in the capital, Mogadishu, two mortar rounds fired by suspected extremists late Tuesday hit near the election venue.

While the international community has pushed Somalia to hold this election as a symbol of strength, the vote has been marred by reports of widespread corruption.

Weeks ago, a joint statement by the UN, the US, the EU and others warned of “egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process.”

With reports of votes being sold for up to $30 000 (about R403 000) apiece, the Mogadishu-based anti-corruption group Marqaati said in a report released on Tuesday: “This is probably the most expensive election, per vote, in history.”

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seeking re-election and may have an edge to win a second five-year term.

But rival candidate and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has accused regional countries of interfering in the electoral process by pushing for certain candidates.

“Those neighbouring countries should respect our sovereignty and stop meddling in our affairs,” he said. – Reuters