Stay in Mogadishu until election deal reached, US tells Somali leaders

The four-year term of Farmajo formally ended on February 8 with no elected successor in place and he has refused to leave the office. Also, the parliament’s mandate expired in December last year.

News Keydmedia Online
21 March 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The U.S. embassy in Mogadishu has once again issued a strong-worded statement on the current deadlock over Somalia’s much-delayed elections.

Located in Mogadishu’s green zone [Halane], the embassy ordered the leaders of Puntland, Jubbaland, Galmudug, HirShabelle, and Southwest states to stay in the city until an election agreement is inked.

“The people of Somalia want elections now. Failure is not an option,” the U.S. embassy tweeted.

This came hours after the U.S. Department of State has expressed concern over the electoral crisis in Somalia and has called on leaders to set aside their differences and hold the election 'Immediately'.

Somalia again facing a period of great uncertainty as leaders in a bitter dispute over the election with the opposition accusing the outgoing president of failure in leading a consensus-based electoral process during his reign.

The four-year term of Farmajo formally ended on February 8 with no elected successor in place and he has refused to leave the office. Also, the parliament’s mandate expired in December last year.

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