US opposes Somali President's arbitrary term extension, threatens sanctions
Washington DC, US (PANA) - The United States is deeply disappointed by Somalia's decision to approve a legislative bill extending the mandates of the president and parliament by two years, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.
"We have stressed repeatedly that it is vital for the peace, stability, prosperity, and governance of Somalia that the Federal Government and Federal Member States reach a consensus on a way forward for the electoral process," the US Secretary of State said.
President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has been unable to reach agreement with members of the main opposition parties and some top officials of the regional governments in Somalia.
The Presidential term of office expired in February and an election was expected to have taken place.
However, after months of failure to reach consensus on the mode of conducting the polls, President Farmajo managed to push through a term extension through Parliament.
"We have made clear that the United States does not support mandate extensions without broad support from Somalia’s political stakeholders, nor does the United States support parallel or partial electoral processes," Blinken said.
He said such actions would be deeply divisive, undermine the federalism process and political reforms that have been at the heart of the country’s progress and partnership with the international community, and divert attention away from countering al-Shabaab.
They will also further delay holding the promised elections awaited by the Somali people.
Somalia does not have a permanent constitution and efforts to negotiate a binding federal constitution has always been dogged by the introduction of sharia law, the sharing of political and executive power between the President and the Prime Minister and the balancing of clan power.
The US Government said the implementation of the bill extending the President's term will pose serious obstacles to dialogue and further undermine peace and security in Somalia.
"It will compel the United States to reevaluate our bilateral relations with the Federal Government of Somalia, to include diplomatic engagement and assistance, and to consider all available tools, including sanctions and visa restrictions, to respond to efforts to undermine peace and stability," the Secretary of State warned.
The US called on Somalia’s Federal Government and Federal Member State leaders to return to talks urgently and agree to a way forward to resolve the electoral crisis.
Washington also urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, continue dialogue, and avoid further unilateral actions that will inflame tensions and undermine Somalia’s democratic processes and institutions.
-0- PANA AO/MA 14April2021
