Villa Somalia controlled Lower House gifts Farmaajo two more years

MPs present, majority of whom allied to Farmaajo passed the resolution which dictated that elections be held in two years time. The resolution which is likely to face a backlash from the Senate also directs the Halima Yarey-led National Independent Electoral Commission yo prepare the elections which must be on a one person one vote basis.

Villas Somalia immediately welcomed the resolution terming it a ‘historic moment’.

“H.E @M_Farmaajo urges the Citizens to seize the historic chance to choose their destiny as the House of the People voted to return the elections mandate to the people. This followed after the failure of FMS members to support the implementation the initial Sep 17, 2020 Agreement,” Villa Somalia said in a tweet shortly  after the resolution.

The passage of the resolution now affirms machinations by Villa Somalia which has in the last four years infiltrated the Lower House and secured overriding influence in the 275 member chamber.

The Lower House has largely played to the bidding of Villa Somalia despite minimal resistance from a small clique of the opposition. The same House passed a unilateral resolution last October which cushioned itself from term lapse setting its stay passed December 27 ‘until a new parliament is constituted’.

It also gave Farmaajo more latitude in the Senate by endorsing a Villa Somalia orchestrated resolution illegally handing 13 Senate seats to Banaadir region which encompasses the capital Mogadishu.

The passage of the resolution today is likely to be greeted by a stern response from the international community. The UN, African Union, EU and the regional bloc IGAD warned Thursday in a joint statement against any term extension or parallel electoral process.

The four intergovernmental organisations  “Reaffirm decision not to support any parallel process, partial elections, or new initiatives leading to any extension of prior

mandates.”