UK, US, EU Issue Separate Statements On Somali Impasse

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “called on Somalia’s Federal Government and Federal Member States to return to talks and agree to a way forward.”

James Duddridge, the UK Minister for Africa expressed dismay over the parliamentary decision to extend the presidential term by two years. “In the absence of consensus leading to inclusive and credible elections being held without further delay, the international community’s relationship with Somalia’s leadership will change. The UK will work with its international partners on a common approach to re-evaluate our relationship and the nature of our assistance to Somalia” Duddridge said in a misdated statement posted on the British government website.

Josep Borrell, Europe’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy described the Somali parliamentary decision as a threat to Somalia’s neighbouring countries.

Somalia’s International Partners have thus failed to reach a consensus on how to react to the collapse of the 17 September Electoral Model and subsequent extension of the incumbent government’s mandate.

Several African countries and members of the Arab League, however, rejected the opportunity to denounce the term extension passed by the Somali Federal Parliament to prepare Somalia for one person, one vote elections, within two years.

This article first appeared in the © Puntland Post, 2021 and is republished with permission