The Somalia House of Commons extends Farmajo’s term in the midst of the stalemate before the election

MOGADISHU, Somalia – For the next two years, Somalis will have to work with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whose term of office expired on February 8, 2021, but has since managed to persuade MPs to give him two more years.

According to the interim constitution, a head of state in Somalia must serve four years before seeking re-election using the condition decided by the election committee or the management forum. Farmajo was first elected in 2017, followed by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

In a choreographed parliamentary session organized by speaker Mohamed Abdirahman Mursal and ahead of the dismissal of Banadir police chief Sadik John, MPs voted overwhelmingly for the proposal to extend the current administration for another two years.

Sadak, who also holds a British passport, had asked Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to “take over” and let the warring parties “resolve their differences”. This statement was followed by firing, which was ordered by his boss Hassan Abdi Hijaar.

Of the 275 MPs, 149 voted in favor of the proposal, yet a step that now throws the international community-led mediation process into limbo. But during Monday’s meeting, only MPs allied with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo attended the session.

The resolution provides technical space for the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] of Somalia to hold elections in no more than two years, and now federal government institutions will continue to function within the same period.

It is Article 5 of the resolution that gives the NIEC two years to hold popular elections. Article 8 gives federal institutions full authority to operate during the period referred to in Article 5 of the Decision.

And this effectively means that the agreement before the election on 17 September has been overtaken by events. In the agreement, the political leadership had agreed to implement an improved clan-based election model, where delegates from each constituency would elect members of parliament who would later elect the president.

The international community, which had been pushing for universal suffrage votes, reluctantly supported the agreement, which, after all, has flopped after Villa Somalia failed to implement it. This was followed by a series of new talks, including the recent collapse of the Afisyoni conference.

While Villa Somalia accused Jubaland and Northeastern State of being a stumbling block, the two states retaliated, accusing the president of “sabotaging the process on purpose to seek time limits”. The international partners have repeatedly pushed for dialogue.

“Speaker Mursal is conspiring with a president whose mandate ended up stealing democracy from Somalia. He divides Somalia. He is the main source of insecurity and political crisis following the extension. Mursal must be stopped from wreaking havoc on our fragile democracy,” Said Abdirizak Mohamed, an opposition MP.

“Farmajo’s train has arrived at the station it had been driving towards. Many people who were unsure of his intention now know better. Anyone who provides financial, military or diplomatic support to Farmajo’s constitutional actions becomes part of a crime against the Somali people, “added Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has already reportedly praised the House of Commons for “unlocking the cul-de-sac”, but he has not yet issued a full statement. According to reports, Farmajo has promised to ensure that “we hold elections within two years”.

Abdulmalik Abdullahi, an analyst for Africa’s Horn affairs, has predicted a serious political battle over the unfolding events and argued that the president should have directed his energy to building bridges in the poorly divided country at the moment.

“Farmajo whips a dead horse. More people may defect from his camp due to increasing pressure. He has to sit back, swallow tasteless egos that could cost Somalia,” he says. “His efforts to secure enlargement should be aimed at building bridges with the political divide.”

AXADLETM