Mohamed Abdirizak: Is Somalia’s government legitimate?
Somalia’s foreign minister discusses the government’s legitimacy after official term expired without a new election.
After 30 years of chaos and conflict, this was going to be a critical year for Somalia. It was supposed to be the first one-person-one-vote election in 50 years. However, in September, that plan was abandoned and replaced with indirect elections for Parliament in December and for the president on February 8. Neither happened.
Now, the official time in office of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has come on an end. And without political agreement, opposition leaders have declared Farmaajo’s government illegitimate.
So, what is next for Somalia? Will the government remain in office? Or will there be a power vacuum? Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Abdirizak talks to Al Jazeera.