Somalia president, Farmajo, signs law extending his term

 

Somalia president, Farmajo, signs law extending his term

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has signed a law extending his presidential mandate by two years.

This follows the parliament’s approval of a motion to extend the term over the dispute that has caused a delay in conducting an election.

“President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo officially signed the Special Electoral Law for Federal Election on Tuesday evening. The Parliament voted overwhelmingly on this motion on Monday,” Information minister Osman Dubbe said

Mr Farmajo’s term expired on 8 February while that of the parliament ended in December – and indirect parliamentary and presidential elections that should have followed have been derailed by political disagreements.

Somali opposition leaders and the regional states of Jubbaland and Puntland, as well as the country’s senate, have rejected parliament’s decision.

Somalia’s donors, including the United States and the European Union have also opposed the decision.

The EU on Tuesday said the action was divisive and posed a grave threat to the peace and stability of the country,

The US said the move would compel it “to reevaluate our bilateral relations with [Somalia], to include diplomatic engagement and assistance, and to consider all available tools, including sanctions and visa restrictions, to respond to efforts to undermine peace and stability”.