Ben Fender, United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Somalia, has said that only Somalis can determine their preferred election dates and electoral model.
Ambassador Fender said the international community should allow Somalis to make their own choice and select their preferred leaders.
Fender stated this on Wednesday via Twitter.
He posted a video message lasting two minutes saying the government of the United Kingdom respects Somalia’s sovereignty.
His message also said, “Only Somalis will determine and decide the person or people to lead them after the elections.”
For several months, Somali leaders have been at loggerheads regarding the upcoming elections, which have proved quite divisive.
Some leaders would like to see the country holding the elections as initially planned.
However, others, including the Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), prefer postponing the elections to 2021.
Ambassador Fender says he decided to speak to answer the many Somalis interested in the views of the UK government on the country’s polls.