Ten months into his second term in Villa Somalia, is President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plotting to force a term extension? Is it possible? And what do Somali politicians and political analysts think of such a forced extension? With clan wars already rampant in the north, would a term extension lead to another clan conflict in the south? What about al-Shabaab, and how would such a term extension affect the war against the al-Shabaab terror group?
Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke on what such a forced term extension by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will mean to the nation:
“If it looks like duck, swims like a duck & quacks like a duck, then is a duck” WR. Whether called constitutional amendment or electoral alignment, this smells like a term extension that meant to pave the way for the NCC endorsement. This may undermine all other ongoing efforts pic.twitter.com/GCVRWpdBvN
— Omar Sharmarke (@OmarSharmarke) March 3, 2023
M. Mubarak on what a forced term extension by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will mean to the war against al-Shabaab and the potential for a state collapse:
Very soon, soldiers in the front lines will start questioning themselves why they are dying for Hassan Sheikh's illegal extension and whether it's worth it. The war against Al-Shabab will halt and infighting will resume. Plus ATMIS drawdown= state recollapse likely in #Somalia 1/
— M.Mubarak (@somalianalyst) March 3, 2023
And finally, journalist Mohamed Gaboobe one the alleged term extension and how it may risk and jeopardize the stabilization efforts, and give rise to uncertainty in the country:
The talk of the town is the term-extension reportedly being plotted in the halls of parliament. It’s unclear if Villa Somalia will be able to pull this office but if they do, then the next four years are guaranteed to be more hectic, that what we witnessed under Farmaajo’s tenure
— Mohamed Gabobe (@Mohamed_Gabobe) March 3, 2023
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