Somali parliament's tenure elapses without clear future plan

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A political quagmire is slowly building in Somalia, a country that has been in shambles for several decades now, following the ongoing pre-election standoff which could plunge the country into unprecedented constitutional challenges that would further precipitate chaos.

On Dec 27, 2020, the term for the current parliament elapsed even before the country agrees on the date for elections, with a timeline already far behind the schedule, something which now creates a gap that could slow the ongoing rebuilding efforts of the country.

Parliament's tenure was strictly four years and it was envisaged that a new national assembly to take over the responsibility in this month. This now means that the country doesn't have the legislative body that will be making laws besides putting the government in the check.

Already, even after the deadline, the disputed Federal Indirect Elections Team called for the states to start the registration process of the candidates running for Senate seats. Somalia finds itself at crossroads due to the ever-recurring political disagreements.

It's not clear if the move will work given that the opposition and a number of federal states have vowed to block the electoral process until certain of their demands are met. For instance, the opposition candidates want the disbandment of the electoral committee arguing that it comprises of the staunch supporters of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Further, they need the government to withdraw troops from the Gedo region in Jubaland as part of the pre-election deal something which Mogadishu is not ready to do. Also, they want Somaliland to be allowed to pick their own poll committee without coercion from Mogadishu.

But the federal government has accused stakeholders of failing to adhere to the agreement that was made in September after months of negotiation. It's expected that by February 8, the country would have held presidential elections as per the timeline.

GAROWE ONLINE