Farmajo calls the election agreement null and void

In an interview with Shabelle TV, Farmajo said he was ready to return to the negotiating table if regional leaders agreed not to include his extension and the Sep 17 agreement in the meeting agenda.

News Keydmedia Online
17 April 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The outgoing Somali president has announced that the September 17 electoral deal collapsed after the Lower House of parliament extended his government mandate by two years.

In an interview with Shabelle TV, Farmajo said he was ready to return to the negotiating table if regional leaders agreed not to include his extension and the Sep 17 agreement in the meeting agenda.

The outgoing president whose term ended last Feb noted that the parliament's decision was valid and would not be reversed after signed the bill into law last week without the consent of the Upper House.

The Lowe House voted unanimously to extend Farmajo’s mandate on April 12, drawing condemnations from the international community with the U.S. threatened to impose sanctions and travel restrictions.

The move came following the collapse of talks between the government and regional states who have been in deadlock over the country’s electoral process since last year.

Farmajo was accused of being the cause of the failure after rejecting to compromise and move out of the standoff that delayed the elections and finally led to an illegal extension.

KEYDMEDIA English