Hiiraan Online
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Speaker of the Somali Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somalia’s parliament postponed its last session under the current government ahead of presidential election, a final chance to showcase the government’s achievements since it was established in 2012.
The horn of Africa nation is gearing up for presidential elections which would see the incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud facing dozens of candidates in a run for the country’s top seat mid this year.
Mohamed Sheikh Osman, Somalia’s parliament speaker announced that Sunday’s session failed to open as result of the country’s president who would open the session could not show up as he had to chair the national consultative meeting which in parallel opened in Mogadishu.
“The parliament’s eighth session will instead officially open on Monday.” He said.
Under the country’s constitution, the president had the power to close the parliament before its term mandate expires. Somalia will have to form a new parliament which will then have to elect a new president.
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the Government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively.
Somalia’s government which proposed the presidential election which is due to take place in June has however dismissed the likelihood of holding popular elections due to security challenges.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group continues to carry out violent attacks across Somalia by carrying out guerrilla attacks including suicide attacks and assassinations.
The international community which is spearheading efforts aimed at restoring peace and order into the horn of Africa nation shattered by decades-old conflict mandated the current government to lead country into general elections following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a new parliament and adoption of a new constitution in 2012.