Mwalimu-G
Elder Lister
News|Conflict
Somalia president to address nation as PM rejects term extension
Prime minister rejects the proposed extension of the president’s term in office and calls for elections to be held.
![Somalia president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, will address the nation on Tuesday [File: Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA]](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2Fh_56675762.jpg%3Fresize%3D770%252C513&hash=08520f70d0ab1c1ebe8d0860d09ee959 "Somalia president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, will address the nation on Tuesday [File: Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA]")
Somalia president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, will address the nation on Tuesday [File: Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA]
27 Apr 2021
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will address the nation on Tuesday after two key states rejected an extension of his term in office and the prime minister asked the country to prepare for elections, whose delay has led to the worst political violence in Mogadishu for years.
Civilians have fled their homes in the Somali capital following renewed clashes between rival factions in the security forces, which have split in a dispute over the two-year extension to the term of Mohamed, who is better known as Farmaajo.
Tensions have been high since February when Farmaajo’s four-year term ended before fresh elections were held amid disagreements over how to proceed with the polls. The president accused regional leaders over the impasse but his opponents accused him of refusing to leave office.
Earlier this month, Somalia’s lower house of parliament voted to extend Farmaajo’s term, but the Senate rejected the move. Still, the president signed into the law the contentious measure extending his mandate and promised elections within two years.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble rejected the extension shortly after the leaders of two federal states, erstwhile allies of the president, issued a joint statement calling for the cancellation of the term extension.
“I welcome the statement issued by Galmudug and Hirshabelle states,” said the prime minister, who also called for preparations for a new presidential election and a beefing up of security arrangements.
Residents start to flee from their home after recent crashes in Mogadishu [AFP]The presidential term extension has also angered foreign donors, who have backed Farmaajo’s government in an attempt to bring stability to a country that has been racked by civil war since 1991.
Months of United Nations-backed talks failed to overcome the election impasse, and the dispute turned violent on Sunday as forces loyal to the president traded gunfire with fighters allied to his political rivals.
Many soldiers in Somalia’s armed forces owe their loyalties to clan militias which have often battled each other for power and resources.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to refrain from further violence while the United States, a key ally, warned of sanctions if negotiations for elections do not urgently resume.
Somalia president to address nation as PM rejects term extension
Prime minister rejects the proposed extension of the president’s term in office and calls for elections to be held.
Somalia president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, will address the nation on Tuesday [File: Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA]
27 Apr 2021
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will address the nation on Tuesday after two key states rejected an extension of his term in office and the prime minister asked the country to prepare for elections, whose delay has led to the worst political violence in Mogadishu for years.
Civilians have fled their homes in the Somali capital following renewed clashes between rival factions in the security forces, which have split in a dispute over the two-year extension to the term of Mohamed, who is better known as Farmaajo.
Tensions have been high since February when Farmaajo’s four-year term ended before fresh elections were held amid disagreements over how to proceed with the polls. The president accused regional leaders over the impasse but his opponents accused him of refusing to leave office.
Earlier this month, Somalia’s lower house of parliament voted to extend Farmaajo’s term, but the Senate rejected the move. Still, the president signed into the law the contentious measure extending his mandate and promised elections within two years.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble rejected the extension shortly after the leaders of two federal states, erstwhile allies of the president, issued a joint statement calling for the cancellation of the term extension.
“I welcome the statement issued by Galmudug and Hirshabelle states,” said the prime minister, who also called for preparations for a new presidential election and a beefing up of security arrangements.
Months of United Nations-backed talks failed to overcome the election impasse, and the dispute turned violent on Sunday as forces loyal to the president traded gunfire with fighters allied to his political rivals.
Many soldiers in Somalia’s armed forces owe their loyalties to clan militias which have often battled each other for power and resources.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to refrain from further violence while the United States, a key ally, warned of sanctions if negotiations for elections do not urgently resume.