The African Union, AU, has condemned the extension of the term of Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and is sending a special envoy to Mogadishu to help resolve the political grid lock.
Last week, Mr. Farmajo controversially approved an extension of his term in office by two years, but the move was met with criticism from major world powers including the United States and Britain, the United Nations and the European Union.
The AU’s Peace and Security Council made the announcement after hours of closed-door meeting where it also resolved to mediate the crisis.
A communique issued after the session on Thursday urged all parties in the country to “immediately resume dialogue on the basis of the September 2020 Agreement”.
The AU council called on all Somali political leaders to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that may lead to an escalation of tensions and further undermine the stability of Somalia, the Horn of Africa region and the continent,” it further said.
The agreement, signed by Somalia’s federal government and regional leaders as well as opposition parties, offered a road map to holding free and fair elections.
“The September 2020 Agreement remains the basis and the most viable path towards the holding of timely, transparent and credible elections in Somalia,” read part of the resolutions.
