Somali parliament has endorsed constitutional amendments that may prolong the president’s term in office
Somalia’s parliament has supported constitutional amendments that may prolong the president’s term by a year and delay the scheduled elections.
The vote took place on Wednesday, and by Thursday, analysts closely monitoring the Horn of Africa country were still engaged in discussions about the potential implications.
Since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has faced ongoing conflict and clan battles, lacking a strong central government.
Although an African Union peacekeeping mission has made progress against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, the organization continues to maintain control over extensive regions of the countryside and possesses the capability to carry out frequent attacks on significant population centers.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed his appreciation for parliament’s support of the constitutional changes during a press conference on Wednesday, noting that the approval process “had dragged for a long period.”
Samira Gaid, an analyst at Balqiis, a think tank located in Mogadishu, stated that the implications of the constitutional amendments, which have faced criticism from opposition lawmakers, are still not well understood.
The constitutional change does not automatically extend the current president’s term; however, it is subject to interpretation. Currently, the president is exercising caution in his statements regarding the extension of his term due to possible backlash from the international community, as he is aware that any misstep could lead to increased tensions both domestically and internationally,” she stated.
Gaid stated that the elections scheduled for May would be postponed due to the absence of an agreed framework at this time, which raises concerns about the political stability and governance in the country during this uncertain period.
