Somalia’s parliament votes on Monday for a new president in what the UN has described as a historic election for the war-torn nation, which has lacked an effective central government for decades.
The election is the final stage of a UN-backed process to set up a new administration for the country, whose 25 presidential hopefuls include the outgoing prime minister and president.
The election has been delayed several times – having already missed an August 20 deadline – but international pressure has increased on parliament to chose a president swiftly.
UN special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, last week described it as a “historic” election, praising efforts to “move forward to a new more legitimate and representative” system.
Analysts have taken a far gloomier outlook on the process, suggesting it offers little but a reshuffling of key figures and positions.
Somalia has lacked an effective central government since president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, unleashing cycles of bloody conflict that have defied countless peace initiatives.