Somali security agencies have announced that nearly 10,000 Somali police officers are fully prepared to provide security for the local council elections scheduled to be held in Mogadishu on December 25.
The Minister of Internal Security, Fartaag, who spoke to the media ahead of the elections, said that the Somali Police have completed all security plans to ensure that the elections are held peacefully and fairly. He noted that the forces will be responsible for ensuring the safety of voters, polling stations and election workers.
“The Somali police are ready and capable of ensuring the security of the elections. All necessary preparations have been completed,” said Minister Fartaag, stressing that protecting the public is the top priority of the security agencies.
These local council elections are considered a historic step, as they are the first to be directly voted for by the public (one person, one vote) in more than 50 years.
Security agencies have increased patrols, intelligence cooperation and checkpoints, amid concerns over potential security threats from armed groups seeking to disrupt the electoral process.
