In Somalia, Political Progress Comes at a Price

After a series of delays and heated political disputes, Somalia's parliamentary elections are finally underway. Though it is still unclear when the vote will be completed, one by one, the seats of the country's upper and lower houses are being filled. Despite the progress Somalia has made in recent years in increasing the transparency of its electoral process, numerous irregularities have been reported as voters head to the polls. Sorting out the results will not be easy, but it will pale in comparison to the task awaiting the next government: taking charge of the country's security as the African Union seeks to wrap up its peacekeeping mission in Somalia, leaving Mogadishu's security services to fend for themselves....