U.S. mulls sanctions and visa restrictions on Farmajo

The implementation of the divisive bill could pose serious obstacles to election dialogue and further undermine peace and security in Somalia as it violated the provisional constitution of the country.

News Keydmedia Online
14 April 2021

WASHINGTON - The U.S. is considering a range of sanctions against outgoing Somali president Farmajo in response to a two-year illegal term extension that Washington says undermines peace and stability in the country.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Farmajo’s term extension will compel the United States to reevaluate bilateral relations with his government, including diplomatic engagement and assistance.

“We have also made clear that the US does not support mandate extensions without broad support from Somali political stakeholders,” said Blinken, calling on local leaders to urgently return to the talks.

The U.S. joins the UK and other international partners who expressed deep distress over the Lower House decision to approve a bill that extends the mandates of the president and parliament by two years.

The implementation of the divisive bill could pose serious obstacles to election dialogue and further undermine peace and security in Somalia as it violated the provisional constitution of the country.

The United States has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, continue the dialogue, and avoid unilateral actions that will inflame tensions and dent Somalia’s democratic processes and institutions.

The statement from the U.S. state department comes after Farmajo's government and the leaders of the five federal states failed to break a deadlock as their latest round of talks in Mogadishu flopped last week.

The term-ended Farmajo administration is under rising pressure from the opposition and the international partners to stop plans to assert more control over Somalia by using the national army and Qatar funds.

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