– The United States has expressed disappointment with Puntland, HirShabelle, and Puntland’s inability to fulfill the March 15 deadline, threatening further sanctions if the deadline is not met.
The United States embassy in Mogadishu, on the other hand, praised the completion of the voting process in the South West, Somaliland, the Banaadiri Community, and Galmudug.
The National Consultative Council, directed by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble, declared in February that the elections would be extended by one month, although that date has yet to be met.
In an interview with local media this week, US Ambassador to Somalia Larry André indicated that if the March 15 deadline is not reached, his government will target additional Somali leaders.
“When the first NCC deadline (February 25) was not met, we took notice and imposed visa limitations on a number of people,” André said. ‘If the next NCC deadline (15 March) is not met, we will take notice once more, and names will be added to the list of individuals barred from entering the US.”
Meanwhile, Jubaland announced that elections for the 16 seats contested by state leader Ahmed Madobe and president Mohamed Farmaajo will take place in Gerbaharey on Tuesday.
This comes amid an ongoing dispute over which a committee designated by Prime Minister Roble to address it has failed to visit the Gedo area.