The president of Somalia calls for a return to dialogue and presidential elections

The President of Somalia, "Mohamed Abdullah", called for a return to dialogue and holding presidential elections, at a time when the country is going through the worst phase of political violence in years, which began with the president's announcement of extending his term.

The President said in a televised address, according to Radio "Africa 1" today, Wednesday, that he will deliver a speech to Parliament next Saturday to obtain his approval for the conduct of the electoral process, and called on political actors to hold "urgent discussions" about how to conduct the vote, stressing that as he repeated on several occasions , The country is ready to organize peaceful and timely elections.

He added that his initiatives, unfortunately, were hindered by foreign individuals and entities that have no goal but to destabilize the country and return it to an era of division and destruction in order to create a constitutional vacuum.

It is noteworthy that political tensions have escalated since the end of President Muhammad’s term, which ended on February 8th without holding elections. On April 12, Parliament passed a law extending its term of office for two years pending the conduct of a vote, which angered the opposition and turned the electoral stalemate into armed clashes last Sunday evening, while fighters allied with the opposition erected barriers in several roads in areas of the capital (Mogadishu).

Hours earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Husayn Rubli condemned the president’s proposal to extend his term and called for preparations for new presidential elections.