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Twenty four candidates to face off in the February 8 Presidential elections in Somalia

Storyline:National News
A delegate cast her vote during in South West state during the Lower House elections in November 2016. The Presidential Elections Committee announced Sunday 24 candidates will contest for the presidency in in the February 8 elections. Photo: Amisom
A delegate casts her vote in South West state during the Lower House elections in November 2016. The Presidential Elections Committee announced Sunday 24 candidates will contest for the presidency in the February 8 elections. Photo: Amisom

Twenty four candidates will battle out for the top office in the land in the February 8 Presidential elections, the Presidential Elections Committee announced Sunday evening.

The PEC released the list following the three days of registration of candidates which began Thursday in what is now one of the clearest indications of Somalia electing a new president after several false starts since September last year.

Among the candidates are outgoing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

A winning candidate will require at least two thirds of the votes from both Houses of Parliament. The Lower House consists of 275 members while the Senate is made up of 54 members. It is now clear if Somaliland will conclude the elections for the remaining two senatorial seats ahead of the February 8 poll.

In effect, one will require the endorsement of at least 219 votes to win in the first round failure to which a second round will be called with four of the candidates with the greatest number of votes in the first round taking part.

Any candidate who gains a two thirds majority in the second round, the 2012 Provisional Constitution says shall be elected president.

Article 89 (d) of the Provisional Constitution notes in the event no candidate gains the necessary two thirds majority in the second round, a third round shall be conducted between the two candidates with the greatest number of votes from the second round. Whoever gains the greatest number of votes in the third round shall be elected president.

According to the timetable released by the PEC this past week, the candidates will be expected to participate in a public debate tomorrow which is to be aired in the media.

The following is a list of candidates who will participated in the February 8 Presidential elections:

  1. Shariif Sheikh Ahmed
  2. Mohamud Mohamed Ulusow
  3. Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke
  4. Abdulqaadir Osoble Ali
  5. Mohamed Ali Nuur Ameeriko
  6. Mohamud Ahmed Nuur (Tarsan)
  7. Bashiir Raage Shiiraar
  8. Abdinasir Abdille Mohamed
  9. Saiid Iise Mohamud
  10. Ali Haaji Warsame
  11. Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame
  12. Saiid Abullahi Deni
  13. Mohamed Abdullahi Abdulle
  14. Jabril Ibrahjim Abdulle
  15. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Faroole)
  16. Hasan Sheikh Mohamud
  17. Mohamed Abdirizak
  18. Abdullahi Ali Ahmed (Addow Ali Gees)
  19. Abdullahi Ilmooge Hersi
  20. Haji Mohamed Yassin Ismail
  21. Ahmed Mohamed Abdi
  22. Abdullahi Ali Hasan
  23. Zakariye Mohamed Haaji Abdi
  24. Mohamed Ahmed Jabarti