Mohamed Farmajo’s term, which expired in February, has been extended by two years. The decision sparked an uproar and was “condemned” on Thursday 22 April by the AU’s Peace and Security Council, which will send a special envoy to try to get the country out of the crisis.
While the country is facing a serious political blockade and the elections planned last year have still not been held, the lower house has allowed the head of state to remain in power for another two years. Despite the fact that his term of office expired in February.
The Peace and Security Council’s response was slow but firm. The body believes that the extension of Mohamed Farmajo’s mandate “undermines Somali unity and stability” while “the unilateral actions of the lower house” threaten “peace and security”.
For this strategic body in the African Union, the September election agreement is “the most profitable alternative to credible elections”. He demanded that a special envoy be sent to Mogadishu immediately.
The United States, Britain and Igad welcomed this statement and isolated Mohamed Farmajo a little more. While the Somali head of state has just returned from Congo Kinshasa where he asked Félix Tshisekedi, who holds the AU rotating presidency, to mediate …
The situation is causing regional tensions. Mogadishu accused Kenya and Djibouti of trying to influence the PSC and violate Somali sovereignty.
Meanwhile, in Somalia, the political camps are in conflict. A shooting has broken out between soldiers and supporters of the former police chief in Mogadishu, fired from his post to try to prevent the vote in the lower house. The opponents of Mohamed Farmajo should have moved.
Finally, on Thursday, a fight broke out at the airport between intelligence officers and immigration workers. Out of fear of a spiral, the African Union asked the Amisom force to monitor the Somali army and organize an emergency meeting.
