Somalia: Puntland parliament rejects Farmajo's term extension

GAROWE, Puntland - In what could further trigger strained relations, Puntland parliament on Saturday voted to reject Farmajo's two-year term extension, just a week after Lower House approved the controversial bill.

Puntland has been accusing the federal government of Somalia of acting against the constitution, insisting that elections should have been held within time besides allowing the transitional team to take over duties of government until credible elections are held.

Before the vote, members of the parliament listened to a briefing by President Abdullahi Said Deni, who returned from Mogadishu and participated in the failed election talks between the federal government and the states.

A vote of a motion against the Somali parliament’s legislation was approved by 49 members of the Puntland parliament, with one opposed the move and two abstained. This means Puntland will not support the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

The Speaker of the Puntland House of Representatives announced that the parliament has vehemently rejected a two-year extension of the federal government’s mandate, which expired months ago. The majority usually carries the day.

The move by the Puntland parliament is in support of the administration’s decision, which strongly opposes the federal government’s term extension. Deni has been calling for dialogue besides asking stakeholders to discuss the legitimacy of Farmajo's term.

Mogadishu has for a long time accused Puntland and Jubaland of allegedly sabotaging the reconciliation process, arguing that the two states are used by "external" actors to drag the country. Both Puntland and Jubaland have often rejected such claims.

GAROWE ONLINE