Somalia’s President signs law extending his mandate for two years
Somalia’s president has signed a controversial law extending his mandate for two years, setting the Horn of Africa nation on a collision course with donors who strongly oppose the move.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s four-year term expired in February without a successor.
“President Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmajo) has tonight signed the direction of one person, one vote law which was unanimously passed by parliament on April 14,” the statement issued by the Minister of Information Osman A Dubbe late on Tuesday night said.
The new head of state was meant to be chosen by a new crop of legislators, but their own selection was delayed after opponents accused the president of packing regional and national elections boards with his own supporters.
On Monday, Somalia’s Parliament extended its mandate and that of President Mohamed Farmaajo by two years, giving the incumbents some respite but creating a potential opposition from the international community and some aspirants.
The decision was reached after an emergency assembly of the Lower House saw some 149 MPs vote to extend their mandate with three voting against and one abstention. The House usually has 275 MPs.
Farmaajo welcomed the decision, saying it will correct the incessant disagreements on the electoral model.
The MPs say the two years should provide enough time for the country to be ready for universal suffrage, something it had failed to organise in four years.
“His Excellency, President Mohamed Farmaajo urges the citizens to seize the historic chance to choose their destiny as the House of the People voted to return the elections mandate to the people.
“This followed after the failure of FMS members to support the implementation of the initial Sep 17, 2020 Agreement,” said a statement from Villa Somalia, Farmaajo’s official residence in Mogadishu.
The decision may undercut the calls by the international community and opposition groups who had opposed extension of mandate and any moves that could jeopardise the implementation of an indirect election based on an agreement reached on September 17, 2020.
On Monday, the group said it will not accept the move by Parliament.
The argument by the opposition is that the mandate of the MPs had expired last year in December.
The group argued the Senate, which is the Upper House of Parliament, accepts that the term of parliament expired.
Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi had joined the opposition caucus to oppose any delays in elections as well as proper vetting of members of the electoral management bodies.
“Somalia’s legitimate representatives retook the task of legislating for national elections after some of you undermined September 17 elections agreement by misleading Deni and company,” said Adam Aw Hirsi, a former government official in Somalia, and now an analyst of regional politics, directing his comment to the donors.
