WASHINGTON, USA – The United States of America can, after all, reject the decision of the lower house of Somalia to extend the term of the current government, whose term expired on February 8 this year, leading to a state of political uncertainty and unprecedented stalemate.
On Monday, the lower house under President Abdirahman Mursal voted in favor of extending the term, with 149 MPs supporting the proposal. This comes after the political leadership did not agree on the agenda of the Afisiyooni Center conference.
Although the decision requires Senate approval, outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has since praised MPs for their “patriotic moves”. However, Farmajo does not control the Senate and has often approved decisions passed by the lower house with a view of the upper house, creating serious legal loopholes.
In a tweet, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations President Senator Bob Menendez called for the extension of the term “unconstitutional” and insisted that attempts to undermine dialogue should be “stopped” by stakeholders.
“Short elections are a critical pillar of a healthy democracy. Constructing an extension of expression is a violation of democratic norms and risks destabilizing Somalia. Stakeholders must reach agreement. Attempts to undermine dialogue on the way to credible polls MUST stop,” said the veteran senator.
Last week, the US State Department had drawn attention to Somalia’s spy agency [NISA] on human rights violations and interference in internal policies. Washington also threatened to blacklist “elements” that drew reconciliation efforts in the country.
The United States is one of the leading stakeholders in the nation in the Horn of Africa, where their interests range from development to security. The U.S. Africa Command Team has trained the Somali National Army [SNA] The Danab team responsible for an attack on Al-Shabaab
Abshir Ahmed, Somalia’s deputy speaker of the Senate, also rejected the decision, arguing that the parliamentary term had expired. Farmajo has been the subject of internal criticism with his critics accusing him of promoting dictatorship, a brand he denies.
“The unilateral decision of the People’s House today is not only legally invalid and insignificant, but also dangerous and a threat to the country’s democracy and stability. The Federal Parliament’s mandate ended and as such can only be renewed through the people’s authority,” he noted.
Parliament [Lower House] now expects Farmajo to continue to remain for the next two years as the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] preparing for the universal suffrage in the war-torn nation.
AXADLETM
