Political crisis in Somalia as opposition leaders declare that the president is illegal

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Somalia has entered a political crisis with the opposition leaders announcing that they will stop recognizing President Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed, after his term officially expired on Sunday without this East African country reaching an agreement leading to the organization of elections.

In a statement issued late on Sunday, opposition leaders said, "As of February 8, 2021, the Council of Opposition Candidates will not recognize Farmajo as president. The council will not accept any form of extension of the mandate through pressure.

This announcement exacerbates the instability in this country, which witnesses a fragile federal government and where the Islamic youth movement rebels are active. The official authorities control only part of the Somali territory, despite the support provided by the African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM).

On 17 September, President Muhammad Abdullah Muhammad reached an agreement with five state leaders and the mayor of Mogadishu to hold elections before his term ends on February 8th.

The announcement came after the Farmajo government in Mogadishu and the leaders of Somalia's five federal states failed to break the deadlock over the way forward to organize elections.

Somalia was supposed to hold its first legislative and presidential elections by direct suffrage since 1969, a goal described by the United Nations as a historic juncture on the country's road to full democracy and peace after decades of violent unrest.

However, that goal was reversed and a complex indirect voting system was adopted, similar to the previous elections, whereby the clans would choose delegates who in turn selected the members of the two houses of Parliament who would appoint the president of the country.

But this process also led to a stalemate, with local leaders and the president trading accusations of responsibility for him.

The coalition of opposition candidates called on the president to respect the constitution and demanded the formation of a transitional national council that would include the presidents of both houses of parliament, local leaders and groups emanating from civil society to lead the country during the upcoming elections period.

Farmajo, who is running for a second term, blamed his rivals for backing away from a previous deal struck in September that set a timetable for the polls.

Jubaland, one of Somalia's five semi-autonomous regions, accused the president of failing to make concessions and thwarting the previous agreement.

This coalition is allied against Farmajo, but it includes candidates competing individually for the presidency, including two former presidents of Somalia.

The capital, Mogadishu, was calm on Monday morning, according to an AFP journalist. However, some roads were closed after the tension that happened on Sunday night, when supporters of the opposition opened fire to celebrate the end of Farmajo's term.

Abdullah Ali, a resident of the city said, we could not sleep last night because of the shooting. We do not know what might happen today.

Several sources told AFP that a parliamentary session was expected to be held to discuss this issue. Meetings were also held at the Presidential Palace and in the Prime Minister's Office, but the government has yet to make any statement.

At the end of January, the UN special envoy to Somalia, James Swan, warned that the country might face a difficult situation to expect if the president's term ends without an agreement to organize the upcoming elections.

Last week, the United Nations and the African Union warned against any attempt to organize partial elections or through a process that would not be agreed upon in the country.

Somalia has been witnessing instability since 1991 and the fall of the military regime headed by former President Siad Barre, which accelerated the country’s plunge in a factions war, followed by a rebellion led by the extremist Islamic youth movement.