Somalia: Opposition wants President to leave office after term ends

MOGADISHU, Somalia-Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is under pressure to resign after his term ends on 10th of September later this year, Garowe Online reports.

A coalition of opposition parties issued a joint statement in Mogadishu, calling on the President to avoid constitutional crisis, and leave office once the constitutionally-mandated term terminates.

The statement comes, four days after Presidential contenders-Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and Ali Haji Warsame—voiced concern over possible abuse of executive authority.

The main parties in the opposition bloc strongly railed against any term extension for the government, and urged the President to come to his senses.

“[National Leadership Forum] communiqué runs counter to the constitution and could lead to constitutional crisis,” read the statement.

Continuing, opposition parties called for the need to summon national respect for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2275/2016 on March 24.

The council at the time underlined that there would be no extension of electoral process timelines for executive and legislative branch.

National poll contenders continue to slam the manipulation of timetable for political opportunism.

Reacting to the recent communiqué on August 10, Farole and Warsame lamented constitutional inconsistency: “It is obviously clear in this communique that this timetable gives an absolute and unequivocal election leverage to the current executive at the detrimental of the other Presidential hopefuls. This is, while illegitimately sitting in the offices, the office holders will use the national resources, security apparatus and political influence for their own campaign.”

On August 8, Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) announced a new election timetable that sets October 30th as the date for Presidential Election.

GAROWE ONLINE