Somalia: Northeastern State’s parliament rejects Farmajo’s extension of the charge
AXADLE, Northeastern State – In what could further trigger hostility between Garowe and Mogadishu, the Northeastern State parliament on Saturday voted in favor of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s extension of the mandate, just a week after the House of Commons approved a two-year extension for the outgoing government.
Northeastern State has accused the federal government in Somalia of acting against the constitution, insisting that elections should have been held within a period of time, in addition to the transition team being able to take over government tasks until credible elections were held.
Before the vote, MPs listened to a briefing by President Abdullahi Said Deni, who returned from Mogadishu and took part in the failed electoral negotiations between the federal government and the states.
A vote on a motion against the Somali parliament’s legislation was approved by 49 members of the Northeastern State parliament, one of whom was against the motion and two abstained. This means that Northeastern State will not support the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Northeastern State announced that the Northeastern State Parliament has strongly rejected a two-year extension of the federal government’s mandate that expired months ago. The majority usually carry the day.
The move by the Northeastern State Parliament is in support of the administration’s decision, which strongly opposes the federal government’s extension of the charge. President Said Abdullahi Deni has called for dialogue in addition to asking stakeholders to discuss the legitimacy of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term.
Mogadishu has long accused Northeastern State and Jubaland of sabotaging the reconciliation process, claiming that the two states are being used by “external” actors to pull the country. Both Northeastern State and Jubaland have often denied such claims.
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