Saturday, September 8, 2012

Finnish-Somali presidential bid stumbles over age requirement

Amal Abdi Ibrahim, a resident of Finland who was hoping to run for the presidency of Somalia, has been struck from the list of candidates because of her age.

Amal Abdi Ibrahim.

According to a new interim Somali constitution, candidates for the post must be at least 40 years of age. Ibrahim is 37 and has been living in Finland for 20 years. A nurse and mother of five, she had planned to fight for the rights of girls, war widows and single mothers.

She was getting help in her effort from Green presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto's former campaign manager, Riikka Kämppi.

Somalia's new parliament is to select a president through secret ballot next Monday.
Sources: Yle

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