Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is apparently relenting in the face of severe tensions in the country: He is renouncing the extension of his four-year term of office – and has spoken out in favor of new elections and a return to political dialogue.
In a speech to the nation on state television, Mohamed announced on Saturday night that he would ask for parliamentary approval „for the electoral process“. He called on political actors to „hold urgent talks“ about how the election should be held. He also announced that he was dropping the attempt to remain in office for another two years.
Premier called for new elections
The president bowed to national and international pressure after riots over the political crisis split the security forces in the capital Mogadishu along ethnic lines. Hours earlier, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble rejected the planned extension of his term of office and called for a new presidential election.
Somalia has not settled down for weeks. The protests were directed against Mohamed, whose term of office expired on February 8. Due to political disputes, the due election was repeatedly postponed, Mohamed remained in office – and signed a law in mid-April to extend his term of office.
This triggered a constitutional crisis in the already unstable East African state, in which civil war had raged for years. Mohamed’s western allies also criticized his adherence to power and called on him to negotiate with his rivals.
