Hiiraan Online
Saturday, December 24, 2016


During an address given to commemorate the 73rd year of the Somali Police Force, General Hamud said he is supporting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in his bid for re-election.Furthermore, he said that three police officers who have been elected as Members of Parliament can also count on his vote.

As Gen. Hamud spoke, the president was seen to be nodding in agreement, body language that would suggest that he welcomed the endorsement.

The speech has alarmed many who criticized that the role of the police in Somalia is to remain partisan in their sworn duties to protect civilians and maintain order.

This is the latest in a wave of incidents that have marred the parliamentary elections in Somalia and have called into question the overall credibility of the electoral process. There have been widespread reports of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and use of state resources. Most of the accusations have been levelled at current government leaders.