The Somali parliament unanimously cancels the two-year extension of President Farmajo’s term

The Somali parliament voted unanimously today, Saturday, to cancel an earlier decision to extend the mandate of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo for a period of two years.

Parliament also decided to assign the prime minister to conduct parliamentary elections on the basis of the September 17 agreement, as it is the main reference for the electoral process in Somalia.

Before the vote – which took place today – Farmajo delivered a speech to Parliament in which he formally announced his relinquishment of extending his presidential term, and instructing the Prime Minister to make the necessary preparations for the elections.

Parliament approved the extension earlier this month, which sparked armed unrest in Mogadishu, as opponents of the president took control of neighborhoods in the capital.

President Abdullah Farmajo retreated from extending his presidential term after international and local pressures that developed into armed confrontations that almost brought the country back to civil war.