In the past week alone, the Horn of Africa country has been the scene of over a dozen deadly terror attacks. The Islamist militant group is seen to be bent on thwarting the forthcoming elections.

More than a dozen attacks were recorded this week, with civilians and Somali military officers among the casualties. The upsurge in violence comes despite ongoing airstrikes by the US military on al-Shabab.

The attacks come as Somalis prepare to go to the polls for a staggered general election. The process is due to start with legislative elections on November 1 and culminate in a presidential election by the beginning of 2021.  

The dates were announced on Thursday, following the resolution of a drawn-out dispute between the federal government in Mogadishu and the leaders of regional states over the electoral model. The two sides reached consensus on an indirect election, similar to that held in 2016, after a series of talks.

Some of the leaders had pushed for universal suffrage; last applied in the country half a century ago. Somalis who have sought refuge abroad  — in the face of drought, famine, and al-Shabab attacks and counterattacks  — had also hoped to return home to cast their ballots in one person, one vote election.

An election amid insecurity

The legislative election will see 101 electoral delegates vote in the members of parliament who will then elect the president. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s mandate expires in February.

Political analysts predict a highly-contested election and the kind of political bickering that had for months held up the decision on the electoral model. The elections offer hope to the country that is recovering from around 30 years of civil war.

Security analysts are meanwhile warning that the vote is likely to take place against the backdrop of renewed insecurity. The recent stalled military operations in the war on al-Shabab allowed the militants to regroup and launch significant attacks, according to analysts.

On August 16, at least 15 people were killed when al-Shabaab militants attacked a hotel in the Lido beach area of Mogadishu.

Targeted killings  — part of the group’s modus operandi  — have also increased. On September 11, a lone al-Shabab suicide bomber killed Shafi Rabbi Kahin, a senior chamber of commerce official in the southern state of Jubaland. Scores of people were injured in the attack.

US troops based in the country have also been affected in the latest wave of attacks.  A US military service member was injured in a car bombing at a military base operated jointly by Somali, African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM), and US military forces in the small own of  Jannay Abdalla near Kismayo.

Read more: Somalia: Al-Shabab attacks intensify as election looms

Source: DW