Row over Somalia’s ballot box donations

Somalis online have questioned why some state governments received donations of ballot boxes from the UN.

The UN office in Somalia (UNSOM) donated the election materials to the South-West regional state, state-owned Somali National TV reported.

However, some people online termed it as a “dependency syndrome”, arguing that ballot boxes, which are made from plastic, could be bought locally.

Others said it was a shame and embarrassing that the government was unable to hold elections without donations.

Somalia’s regional states are due to hold parliamentary and senate elections that were delayed over disputes among stakeholders.

The states are in the process of organising their respective senate elections.