Hiiraan Online
Saturday, August 20, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Somalia’s outgoing parliament will continue to serve as a caretaker congress to avoid power vacuum with a mandate to prepare the ground for a new parliament and presidential elections, Somali parliament speaker said Saturday.
Somali government has recently announced that the election of a new president will take place on Oct. 30. The government had previously scheduled presidential elections in August, before the incumbent president’s term expires.
The election’s reschedule by the government has prompted concerns by the international community, with the The United Nations Security Council said it regrets a delay in presidential and parliamentary elections in Somalia, calling on all parties to implement the new calendar without delay.
“The current parliament will remain in charge until a new parliament is being formed.” Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari told reporters, invoking constitutional rights.
The development comes amid calls by opposition parties for the current government and parliament to leave power mid August respectively before election.
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively.
The international community which is spearheading efforts aimed at restoring peace and order into the Somalia which is recovering from decades of war mandated the current government to lead the country into general elections following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a new parliament and the adoption of a new constitution in 2012.