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Somali opposition warns President Hassan Sheikh against term extension
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    Monday October 7, 2024

     


    From left to right: Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and Opposition Leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame— have united to oppose President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's alleged efforts to extend his presidential term, citing concerns over constitutional violations and threats to political stability

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Three leading Somali opposition figures have urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to abandon plans for a presidential term extension, warning that such a move would destabilize the country and violate the constitution. In a joint statement on Saturday, former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame accused the president of delaying elections and attempting to extend regional mandates to consolidate power.

    The opposition figures accuse President Hassan Sheikh of undermining Somalia's democratic processes by delaying national elections and attempting to extend the mandates of regional governors whose terms have expired. They argue that this tactic violates the constitution and is a threat to Somalia's political stability.

    "The foundation of governance is rooted in the rule of law," the statement declared, criticizing the president's moves as unconstitutional. The opposition leaders also emphasized the need for national unity and consultation to face challenges, including external threats, particularly Ethiopia's military incursions into Somali waters.

    The opposition accused President Hassan Sheikh of plotting to extend regional mandates until May 2026 without holding the necessary elections, describing this as an illegal power grab. They added that elections should have been conducted earlier this year and warned that any further delays would erode Somalia's democratic progress.

    "We strongly oppose the extension imposed by the President on regional governors," the leaders stated. They accused President Hassan Sheikh of destabilizing the country by circumventing the constitution and postponing necessary elections.

    Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni's absence from this week's National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting further highlights the depth of regional dissatisfaction with federal governance. Deni has boycotted the talks, citing federal overreach and grievances over resource allocation and political representation. His defiance, coupled with Jubaland's resistance to the federal government's proposed one-person, one-vote (1PV) electoral system, has created roadblocks to resolving the national political crisis.

    The opposition leaders urged regional leaders, particularly those from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and South West states, to reject any unconstitutional mandate extensions and prioritize holding timely elections. 

    They applauded the President of Jubbaland for refusing to extend his regional mandate without first addressing the national political crisis. "We commend the position of Jubbaland's President for upholding the law and refusing to hold regional elections without resolving the political crisis," the opposition leaders said.

    The opposition warned that attempts to extend the president's term would not only face resistance within Somalia but also draw disapproval from the international community. "The Somali people and the international community must defend the constitution and reject any moves to extend the president's mandate," they stated, referencing past resistance to similar actions by previous administrations.

    The statement also warned President Hassan Sheikh against using federal funds to pressure regional governors into supporting his term extension, calling such tactics "destabilizing." They urged the president to respect the legal framework and avoid actions that could further polarize the political situation.


     



    Below is a translation of the press release from Somali to English

    PRESS RELEASE

    Reference: S/03/24
    Date: 07/10/24

    In February of this year, we jointly issued a press release with the reference number S/02/04 to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, urging him to guide the country with wisdom and understanding, to unite the people of Somalia, and to embrace consultation and compromise so that the future of the nation is determined together. We emphasized the need for unity to face the external threat posed by the Ethiopian invasion of our maritime boundaries.

    President Hassan Sheikh previously violated the constitution by attempting to extend his mandate and imposing decisions on the country without consulting its citizens or institutions. We issued a warning about this undemocratic path, and when the timeline for local elections expired without a clear electoral plan, it became evident that the President was attempting to stay in power without holding elections.

    The foundation of governance is the rule of law, and the political mandates are rooted in the constitution. We strongly oppose the extension imposed by the President on the regional governors whose mandates have expired. These leaders must be replaced, not granted extensions until May 15, 2026.

    Unfortunately, the President who was elected to safeguard the constitution and uphold the rule of law is now seeking an extension of his term, citing reasons such as political instability and national security concerns. This would be a clear violation of the law, and we reject any such attempts.

    Rather than prioritizing the unity of the country and fighting terrorism, as well as confronting the Ethiopian aggression at our maritime boundaries, the President has chosen to exploit the internal political turmoil for his benefit, undermining the strength and unity of the state.

    We, the people of Somalia, and the international community declare that we will never allow an illegal term extension today, just as we opposed it with the previous administration. We stand firm in defending the constitution and will not allow President Hassan Sheikh to manipulate the people for his political gain. His attempt to use the constitution to legitimize his stay in power will be rejected, just as it was with the former president.

    We call upon the regional leaders of Galmudug, South West State, and Hirshabelle to reject any attempts to extend their mandates unconstitutionally and to ensure that electoral timelines are respected. We emphasize that our country is a federal republic, and regional administrations are responsible for holding local elections, while the federal government must ensure national elections are conducted properly. The constitution mandates that these three levels of elections (local, regional, and federal) are held accordingly.

    We applaud the stance of the President of Jubbaland for refusing to hold regional elections until the national political crisis is resolved and the country's governance is restored in accordance with the law.

    Lastly, we call on the President to gather all regional leaders, including Puntland, to convene a meeting to protect the unity and integrity of the country.

    Finally, we caution President Hassan Sheikh against using federal financial resources to coerce regional leaders into supporting an illegal term extension, which would destabilize the nation politically and endanger the country's future.

    Signed:

    1. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
    2. Hassan Ali Khaire
    3. Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame

     





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