Somalia’s president called early Wednesday for elections in a bid to ease the current political tensions in the country.
"We have always been committed to conducting unconditional elections anchored on the 17 September 2020 agreement and the recommendations of the 16 February 2021 Baidoa Technical Committee,” said Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, addressing the nation on national television.
Somali parliament speaker Mohamed Mursal called for an extraordinary parliament session on Saturday just hours after president @M_Farmaajo called for an election in a bid to ease the current tensions in #Somalia pic.twitter.com/l7lbP8pIJE
— Mohammed Dhaysane (@MDhaaysane) April 28, 2021
To fulfil elections based on these agreements, he said, "I call upon all parties in Somalia to bring to a halt everything that is a threat to the stability of our country, politicization of the forces, divisions and vandalism.”
Mohamed has accused foreign governments and individuals of attempting to destabilize the country.
"Unfortunately, our resolve was frustrated by a few individuals and foreign governments whose aim remained destabilizing Somalia to cause destruction and partition it to place us in a constitutional crisis,” he said.
He will address the country's parliament on Saturday.
#Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed calls for elections and a return to dialogue after the extension of his mandate by two years sparks the country's worst political violence in years https://t.co/anwddxj8Ng
— Randa HABIB (@RandaHabib) April 28, 2021
The capital Mogadishu has witnessed violence and displacement among the public after government forces and pro-opposition soldiers clashed in parts of the city.
The country was thrown into a political and election stalemate after Mohamed’s four-year term ended on Feb. 8 this year and parliament extended his mandate and that of the president for two more years.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
