Why has Somalia’s president extended his mandate?

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he is staying in office for two more years.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has signed a controversial law extending his mandate for two years.

The president’s four-year term expired in February, but on Monday, the lower house of parliament voted to extend it.

Keep reading

In Somalia, a US bureaucrat fights to hold onto power

Is Somalia’s political process unravelling?

Somalia’s parliament votes to extend embattled president’s term

That decision threatens to further divide the nation and worsen its political crisis.

The African Union, European Union and United Nations say they will not support the extension.

Now many fear the instability will embolden the al-Shabab armed group, which for years has been trying to topple the government.

So, is another crisis in Somalia in the making?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

Zakaria Haji Abdi – member of parliament and former minister of information

Hodan Ali – aid and development expert

Afyare Elmi – associate professor of security studies at Qatar University