Somalia’s Political Roadblock: Leadership Gridlocked Over Term Extension During Key Election Reform Deliberations

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A hush-hush conclave involving Somalia’s President and Prime Minister, alongside Ahmed Madobe from Jubaland, concluded in a standoff on Friday, as noted by Axadle’s unimpeachable sources. This stalemate is a serious setback for the Federal Administration’s electoral reform strategy, which faces considerable pushback.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud advocates for a sweeping change to the constitution, attempting to alter the electoral landscape. His call for a move away from the entrenched 4.5 clan-based system to a direct voting method has stirred dissension across the nation.

Somalia’s leadership has huddled in the Mogadishu presidential palace for days, wrestling with challenges ranging from security to governance, as well as federal-state dynamics that put pressure on Mogadishu’s authority.

Trustworthy reports from the National Consultative Council reveal that Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and President Hassan Sheikh couldn’t sway Jubaland’s Ahmed Madobe on the subject of extending governmental terms, adding pressure to President Mohamud’s administration.

“The aim of the discussion was to coax Madobe into backing an unauthorized extension of regional leaders’ terms at the NCC. His refusal jeopardizes the blueprints laid out by Villa Somalia,” insiders within the government divulged.

The ongoing NCC talks entered their fourth day minus Northeastern State’s participation, and are now stalled due to an impasse between Madobe and the officials in Villa Somalia. Madobe insists on including Northeastern State and SSC-Khaatumo in the discussions and promoting autonomous elections for Federal Member States, while the Federal Government aims for a one person, one vote system along with term extensions for FMS and FGS leaders, informants convey.

Although Hassan Sheikh seems intent on backing regional leaders’ term extensions to prolong his own tenure, it contrasts starkly with his previous position against such extensions when he was part of the opposition.

Extending terms would, ostensibly, empower Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to amend the constitution and forge a path toward nationwide elections based on individual votes. Yet, consensus on this contentious amendment remains elusive.

Opposition and some Federal Member States like Northeastern State have raised concerns over Hassan Sheikh’s tactics, arguing a lack of thorough consultation. Critics lambast Somalia’s government for what they see as autocratic maneuvers, accusing the president of embodying what he disparaged while on the political fringes.

AXADLETM