Somalia transitional parliament extends term three years, prompting criticism
On Thursday, by three years. The move is of questionable legality and has evoked criticism from and from the UN, the US, and the UK.
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鈥淭his is a disappointing decision taken in haste without the required level of discussion and consultation on how to end the transition,鈥� the UN鈥檚 special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said.
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鈥淥ur concern is that the international community has urged the Somali government to consult very wisely with Somalis 鈥� including those in the diaspora 鈥� and their international partners to find a way forward,鈥� said Matt Goshko, public affairs officer at the US Embassy鈥檚 Somali affairs unit in Nairobi, Kenya.
Goshko said the transitional parliament disregarded an African Union request for expanded consultation.
鈥淭heir decision to extend was unilateral, it was hurried, it was not in the best interest. And that鈥檚 why we are asking them to reconsider.鈥�
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Britain鈥檚 senior representative for Somalia, Matt Baugh, said parliament鈥檚 decision stood to affect the legitimacy and credibility of the country鈥檚 transitional institutions.
鈥淚t is deeply regrettable that the TFP have chosen to ignore the request of the African Union and the UN for wide consultation before taking action,鈥� he said in a statement.
鈥淭he Somali people, who continue to suffer the appalling effects of 20 years of conflict, deserve better.鈥�
Parliament鈥檚 self-extension has clearly damaged its international credibility, and given that Somalia鈥檚 Transitional Federal Government (TFG) relies heavily on international support, the move could represent a Pyrrhic victory for Somali lawmakers. Policymakers in the US have already been thinking about strengthening relations with regional governments in Somalia, such as Somaliland and Puntland, and a perception that the TFG is stubborn could push Washington further toward engagement with these other actors.
Parliament鈥檚 moves make the short-term trajectory of (attempted) governance in Somalia more unpredictable in other ways as well. Dr. writes that the TFG鈥檚 transition, scheduled for August, is 鈥渋mploding,鈥� and that international actors are increasingly dissatisfied with the TFG鈥檚 approach to the final months of its mandate. Open conflict between the TFG and its international backers could therefore not only strengthen regional players in Somalia, but could also tear up the road map for this year鈥檚 transition. If the TFG overstays its welcome and the international community balks, that conflict could affect the civil war and the next incarnation of a would-be Somali state.
鈥� Alex Thurston is a PhD student at Northwestern University who studies Islam in Africa and blogs on Africa's Sahel region at .
