Jump to navigation

Somalia

Row over delayed presidential election escalates

African Union and UN warn politicians that their support will end without consensus on vote plan

On paper, Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed 'Farmajo''s presidential term will end on 15 February. But he shows no signs of vacating the post after plans to organise an indirect election for the job fell apart.

The country's five provinces have failed to reach agreement on the organisation of electoral commissions. Opposition groups say they will no longer recognise Farmajo as President after 15 February. 

Plans for a full general election for the presidency were abandoned in favour of an indirect vote by clan leaders, a messy process in which the winner, probably either Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed or Farmajo, would have to contend with polarised Federal States, a divided National Army, and multiple clan rivalries (AC Vol 62 No 1, Voting may not bring peace).

Farmajo will address both houses of parliament in an emergency debate on Saturday (13 February) and he may seek to extend his government's mandate, a legally possible option but certain to anger the opposition. 

After the parliamentary debate, the five regional leaders and Farmajo may meet on 15 February, with international partners joining as observers, to discuss the way forward. But the terms of that meeting, whether it will be held in Mogadishu or Puntland, are also being fought over.

Opposition leaders in the Council of Presidential Candidates, say the conference can be held only if Farmajo attends as a candidate and not as a Head of State.

In a joint warning on the need for consensus, the African Union and the UN said that 'any alternative outcomes, including a parallel process or partial elections, or other measures short of an agreed electoral process, would be a setback that would not obtain the support of partners.'



Related Articles

Voting may not bring peace

When elections are over, oil and gas are likely to move centre-stage, and the changing geopolitical context will have deep effects

No Somali election passes without conflict. The hardening stances of the government and its opponents caused first delays in selecting new members of parliament, and then argument about...


Amisom struggles

A funding gap and a string of defeats head a long list of problems for the African alliance fighting Islamist militants

The health of the African Union Mission in Somalia is still in question after the leaders of the troop-contributing countries ended a crucial summit on its financing and...


Islamist takeover

Clans switch sides to overthrow the warlords but will they stay loyal to the Islamic Courts

The lightning take over by the Islamic Courts Union on 14 June surprised almost everyone, not least the United States CIA. The warlords crumbled almost overnight and with...


Beyond the Horn

Mogadishu's Islamists threaten Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well as their own country

The Somali conflict poses a growing threat to neighbouring states. As the SICC and the TFG started their third round of talks in Sudan on 1 November, Ethiopia...