LONDON (SD) – Somali prime minister Mohamed Roble has called on the country’s regional state leaders to fast-track senate elections hours after the southerly state, Jubbaland announced the date for the Upper House election.

PM Roble who hailed welcomed decision by Jubbaland state to kick-start the electoral season in the country has urged Somalia’s other regional states to follow suit.

“Elections have begun, and I urge other states to expedite the elections,” said Roble who is currently in London for Global Education Summit.

Jubbaland Electoral Implementation Committee on Tuesday released a timetable for the election of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament from the Jubbaland state.

Thursday’s vote will be for four of the seats while elections for the four remaining posts will take place after candidates are vetted.

Nine candidates will contest Thursday, among them only one woman, according to a statement issued Tuesday, and signed by the leader of Jubbaland state, Ahmed Mohamed Madobe,

Majority of Somalia’s regional state presidents had failed to meet the July 25 timeline for the start of elections in the regional parliaments.

Only Southwest and Jubbaland states have appointed election teams while all the other regional governments including the Somaliland caucus are yet to name their teams.

According to the elections schedule, FMS presidents were supposed to submit the names of candidates for the senate race latest on July 24.