Somalia president accused of crossing ‘dangerous red line’ after extending term

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali academic and political analyst Afyare Elmi warned on Sunday that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had crossed a “dangerous red line” by extending his mandate, altering the constitution and attempting to reshape Somalia’s electoral system, arguing the moves risk pushing the Horn of Africa nation deeper into political instability.

“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud crossed a dangerous red line by unilaterally extending his term mandate for one year, changing the constitution, and attempting to gerrymander elections,” Elmi said in a lengthy political statement addressing Somalia’s escalating constitutional dispute.

The remarks come as Somalia faces one of its most fragile political moments in years following disputes over electoral arrangements, constitutional amendments and the timing of the next political transition.

Elmi said Somalia’s modern political settlement was built around the principle of regular transfers of power after the collapse of the military regime that plunged the country into civil war in 1991.