Political parties accuse president of trying to extend term

After the federal government and parliament announced that there would be universal vote in 2016 , political parties have joined a chorus of condemnation with the civil society and commentators pointing fingers at the federal government.

Abdikadir Mohamed Osman aka Barnamij who is the chairman of Kulan Party and a member of the Umbrella body of parties has told Goobjoog News they suspect the top leaders of planning to extend their term in office beyond 2016.

“We heard MPs talking about term extension, they are even discussing this in the media. It’s very disturbing and worrying,” said Barnamij who was a guest at the Goobjoog FM’s weekly radio programe, Jim’ale on Friday.

He also took a swipe at the UN office in Somalia saying that Nicholas Kay, the UN Special envoy to Somalia seems to be colluding with the federal leaders. “He is speaking from the same script with them, before him I remember his predecessors like Wallad Abdalla and Augustina Mahiga pressured seating presidents to ‘do the honorable thing, which was to leave office in time’,” said the chairman.

Delaying tactic

Abdinour Mohamed Ahmed, the editor of Xaqiiqa Times newspaper, and political analyst said that the government deliberately delayed to implement all the necessary tasks for an election to be held. “All these independent commissions should have been in place in their first year in office. Its only now they have put in place the electoral commission, which has no office, there is no voter registration, voter education and all other things for a credible election,” said Abdinour.

He also suspects that the recent decision by the government to put vision 2016 into consultation is another delaying tactic. “I can tell you that they might make a u-turn in the last minute and announce term extension. They are only wasting the people’s time, they are not up to no good according to our experience, observed Abdinour.

Goobjoog News