By John Ikani
The US has announced visa restrictions against current or former Somali officials accused of undermining democratic processes.
The development comes as the US pushes for credible elections in Somalia, which have been long delayed.
The visa restrictions applied to people “who have failed to follow through with their obligations to implement timely and transparent elections”, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said in a statement without mentioning names.
While noting that the ban on current or former Government officials would extend to their immediate family members, Blinken added that the sanction also targets officials who have “targeted journalists and opposition party members with harassment, intimidation, arrest and violence”.
“Today, on the one-year anniversary of the expiration of the Somali president’s term in office, I am announcing the implementation of a policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that restricts the issuance of visas to current or former Somali officials or other individuals who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Somalia, including through violence against protestors, unjust arrests or intimidation of journalists and opposition members, and manipulation of the electoral process.”
Somalia has postponed elections since the mandate of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who is also known as Farmajo, expired in February last year.
The sanctions come as Farmajo marks the beginning of his second year in office without a legal mandate to govern.
Despite this, Farmajo hosted US Ambassador to Somalia Larry André in Mogadishu on Monday, where André presented his diplomatic credentials.
The US embassy said the two discussed the electoral process after the ceremony.
Indirect parliamentary elections started in November and were supposed to conclude by 24 December but have been marred by disputes.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and regional state leaders reached a deal on 9 January to complete the polls by 25 February.
The process has been exasperated by the rift between Somalia’s national executive.
The US State Department says the political leaders must follow through on their commitments to complete the process by the deadline.
