The US State Department has warned Somali leaders against further delays to the indirect parliamentary elections and threatened to impose targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions.

The US asked the Somali leaders to adhere to the new election timeline and conclude the parliamentary election by 25 February.

This date was finalised following several days of meetings in Mogadishu between the Somali prime minister and leaders of regional administrations.

“We call on all of Somalia’s national and federal member state leaders to adhere to the newly agreed timeline and correct the procedural irregularities,” the US State Department said in a press statement.

The indirect parliamentary elections started in November and were supposed to conclude by 24 December but have been marred by delays due to disputes.

Only a few dozen of the 275 seats in the lower house have been filled so far.

Source: bbc