Tuesday April 13, 2021
Mogadishu (HOL) - The leaders of two regional states who have been at loggerheads with the federal government over how to settle the electoral crisis have officially departed Mogadishu on Tuesday.
President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) of Puntland departed from Aden Adde airport after staying in Somalia's capital for over a month. During their time in Mogadishu, the two leaders met with the international community, presidential candidates and very briefly with the federal government.
Their departure follows the collapse of electoral talks between regional and federal government leaders. It also follows yesterday's decision by Somalia's Lower House of Parliament to extend their term and the president's term by two years.
The decision was met with opposition from Somalia's Upper House, who denounced the move as illegal. Nonetheless, there are reports that President Farmajo signed the term extension on Tuesday evening.
A host of international partners, including the U.S. and the E.U., went on the record on Tuesday to voice concern about the unilateral move, warning it threatens Somalia's stability. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the U.S. House of Foreign Affairs Committee, called on his government to consider sanctioning those who made the extension possible, which may include the Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Mursal, a close ally of President Farmajo.