Somalia

Somalia has inaugurated 290 new lawmakers, bringing the country a step closer to completing a prolonged electoral process marred by alleged corruption and irregularities. … Dozens more legislators are yet to be selected and sworn in. Later the lawmakers will elect speakers and deputies for both parliamentary chambers before they sit to choose a new president.

Somalia began swearing in new legislators Thursday in a ceremony in Mogadishu, signalling an important step towards creating a new government and electing the president. In Somalia's indirect polls, elected members of the Senate and Lower House are expected to hold a joint session to elect the president.

The African Union on Saturday stood by Mozambican diplomat Francisco Madeira, the head of the continental body’s mission to Somalia, after he was initially ‘expelled’ from the country.

Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble declared Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the African Union chair’s special representative for Somalia, persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours.

The UN chief issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the transition to a new African Union (AU) mission in Somalia, pledging the Organization’s “unwavering commitment” to the country, the mission, and the Somali security forces in their ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab militants.

[…] The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, replaces the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, which has been in the Horn of Africa nation for 15 years trying to build lasting peace and security.

The mandate and capacity of a new operation should allow robust engagement to deal with underlying political conflicts.

Prominent Somali female lawmaker among 15 killed in bombing

A prominent Somali female lawmaker is among at least 15 people killed in a suicide bombing that hit a polling station in rural central Somalia, police said Thursday.

More Somali Leaders accused of undermining democratic processes have been slapped with sanctions that include visa restrictions by the US.

Somalia has again pushed back the deadline for completing parliamentary elections, which are already more than a year overdue, because of political disputes.