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Somali Opposition Leaders Refuse to Recognize President Mohamed as Official
Term Expires

VOA News

   Somalia's political crisis deepened Monday after a coalition of
   opposition parties announced they no longer recognize President Mohamed
   Abdullahi Mohamed, whose term expired with no political agreement on
   how to replace him.

   The alliance issued a statement calling for the creation of a
   transitional national council to govern the Horn of Africa nation until
   elections can be held. The coalition said it would not accept any
   effort to extend President Mohamed's term.

   President Mohamed, commonly known by his nickname Farmajo, was seeking
   a second term through indirect elections that were scheduled to be held
   late last year. Clan leaders from each member state were set to choose
   the members of parliament, who would then elect the president.

   But he has accused opposition leaders of backing out of a deal reached
   last September that established the electoral process.

   Mohamed and Prime Minister Hussein Roble held three days of talks last
   week with the leaders of five federal member states in the town of
   Dhusamareb, located about 500 kilometers north of the capital,
   Mogadishu, in hopes of reaching a compromise. But the talks collapsed
   Saturday, and the leaders of the federal states of Puntland and
   Jubaland have said they will no longer recognize Mohamed as president.

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