NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – The African Union has condemned “the actions of 12 April by Somalia’s parliament to extend its mandate and the term of the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
It said the move delayed elections “thereby undermining unity and stability of the country.
“[The African Union Peace and Security Council] condemns the actions of 12 April 2021 by the House of People, which extended the mandate of the President and the Parliament, as effectively delaying the elections, thereby undermining unity and stability of the country, the nascent democratic and constitutional processes,” statement reads.
The council has stressed that the decision threatens “the relative peace and security, as well as the important gains that Somalia has made over the years with the support of the AU and other partners with huge sacrifices”.
In a communique issued after a meeting by the African Union Peace and Security Council on the current political crisis in Somalia, it urged Somali political leaders to prioritize the country’s national interests and “to immediately resume dialogue, on the basis of the September 2020 Agreement and Baidoa technical committee recommendations”.
“[The council] calls on all Somali political leaders to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that may lead to an escalation of tensions and further undermine the stability of Somalia, the Horn of Africa region and the Continent,” the statement adds.
“[The council] underscores the need for the Somali Parties to negotiate in good faith in search for an agreement that would allow for the holding of elections and establish a stable and inclusive political atmosphere.”
It comes shortly after Somalia’s Information Minister accused Djibouti and Kenya of embarking on a campaign to influence the contents of a statement by the African Union Peace and Security council on the Horn of Africa country’s current political standoff.
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