Farmajo's term extension unconstitutional, US Senator tells Somalia

WASHINGTON, USA - The United States of America may after all disown the decision by Somalia's Lower House to extend the term of the current administration, whose mandate expired on Feb 8 this year, leading to a state of political uncertainty and unprecedented stalemate.

On Monday, Lower House under the stewardship of Speaker Mohamed Mursal voted in favor of term extension, with 149 MPs supporting the motion. This comes after the political leadership failed to agree on the agenda of the Afisiyooni Center conference.

Although the resolution needs approval from the Senate, outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has since praised MPs for their "patriotic move". The extension term lacks approval from the Senate, creating serious legal loopholes.

In a tweet, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Senator Bob Menendez termed the extension of the term "unconstitutional" and insisted that attempts to undermine dialogue should be "stopped" by stakeholders.

"Timely elections are a critical pillar of a healthy democracy. Engineering a term extension is a breach of democratic norms and risks destabilizing Somalia. Stakeholders must reach a consensus. Attempts to undermine dialogue on a path to credible polls MUST stop," said the veteran senator.

Last week, the US State Department had put on notice Somalia's spy agency [NISA] on violation of human rights and interference of internal politics. Washington also threatened to blacklist "elements" dragging reconciliation efforts in the country.

The US is one of the leading stakeholders in the Horn of Africa nation, with their interests ranging from development to security. The US Africa Command team has been training Somali National Army [SNA] Danab squad, which is responsible for a crackdown against Al-Shabaab

Abshir Bukhari, Somalia's Senate Deputy Speaker, also dismissed the resolution, arguing that the term of parliament had expired. Farmajo has been facing internal criticism with his critics accusing him of promoting dictatorship, a label he denies.

"The unilateral resolution by House of the People today is not only legally void and inconsequential but also dangerous and threat to the country’s democracy and stability. The mandate of the Federal Parliament ended and as such can only be renewed through the authority of the people," he noted.

Parliament [Lower House] voted to extend Farmajo's term on Monday, a move that the International partners and stakeholders have warned could ignite conflict in the war-torn country. 

GAROWE ONLINE