Somalia s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed called early Wednesday for elections and a return to dialogue after the extension of his mandate by two years sparked the country s worst political violence in years.
The president, best known by his nickname Farmajo, addressed the nation at around 1:00 am local time (2200 GMT) after hours of anticipation, with Mogadishu on a knife s edge as government troops and pro-opposition soldiers beefed up their positions and civilians fled their homes.
The rival sides exchanged gunfire on Sunday in an eruption of long-simmering tensions sparked by the delay of February elections and Farmajo s extension of his mandate earlier this month.
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed announced he will not attempt to extend his term by two years, bowing to domestic and international pressure after clashes in the capital Mogadishu split security forces along clan lines.
Hours earlier, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble denounced the proposed term extension and called for preparations for a new presidential election.
The president’s term expired in February, but the country failed to hold elections as planned. Earlier this month, the lower house of parliament voted to extend Mohamed’s four-year term by another two years.
The Senate rejected the move, provoking a political crisis.
At least 7 killed in suicide bombing in Somalia s capital
HASSAN BARISE, Associated Press
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) At least seven people were killed and more than 11 others wounded when a vehicle exploded outside a police headquarters in Somalia’s capital, police and health officials said Wednesday.
The al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility.
A police spokesman, Col. Abdiqani Mohamed Qalaf, said the suicide bomber tried to drive into the headquarters near the ex-control Afgoye road but was thwarted.
“He could have killed more people if not stopped,” Qalaf said. He said two soldiers and three passers-by were among the dead.
Dr. Hashim Suldan at Medina hospital told The Associated Press they had received 13 wounded people and two of them died on arrival. Others had serious wounds from shrapnel.
Somali president calls for elections in bid to ease tensions
Wednesday April 28 2021
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Somalia s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed called early Wednesday for elections and a return to dialogue after the extension of his mandate by two years sparked the country s worst political violence in years.
The president, best known by his nickname Farmaajo, addressed the nation at around 1am local time after hours of anticipation, with Mogadishu on a knife s edge as government troops and pro-opposition soldiers beefed up their positions and civilians fled their homes.
The rival sides exchanged gunfire on Sunday in an eruption of long-simmering tensions sparked by the delay of February elections and Farmaajo s extension of his mandate earlier this month.
Reuters Reuters
28 April, 2021, 8:03 pm
Residents flee following renewed clashes between rival factions in the security forces, who have split in a dispute over an extension to the president s term in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia April 27, 2021. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s prime minister denounced a proposed extension of the president’s term on Tuesday, piling pressure on President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to hold elections as rival factions in the security forces drew up battle lines in the capital.
The heads of two regional states who had been staunch allies of the president also rejected the proposed two-year extension of Mohamed’s term.