After Somali President, Mohammed Abdullahi signed an extension of his tenure by two years, the nation’s main donors, the United States and the United Kingdom have condemned the decision.
A statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Information confirmed that the President signed an extension to his tenure alongside the one person, one vote law which was unanimously passed by the parliament.
Abdullahi’s four-year tenure expired since February with no successor in sight. The new President was to have been chosen by members of the parliament but their decision suffered delays after protests as to the selection of the people on the elections board.
Somalis complained that the majority of those on the board were people who had close connections with the incumbent President.
On Monday, the country’s lower house chamber voted in support of the extension of the tenure but the upper house speedily rejected the plans.
A statement from the United States’ Secretary of State’s, Antony J. Blinken’s office expressed disappointment with the decision of the country to extend the tenure of the President.
The U.S further warned that it will reconsider its bilateral relations and diplomatic engagements with Somalia and may be forced to add visa restrictions and other sanctions to its line of action.
Britain’s Minister for Africa James Duddridge threatened the country with a change in its relationship after its failure to hold a credible election.