What A Complete Humiliation Farmajo Shown The Door In Kampala Uganda
Somalia Government Postpones Elections, Extends Mandate And Forces Prime Minister To Resign...
KAMPALA, Uganda -Feuding politicians at the head of Somalia's transitional government have postponed elections for at least a year, effectively extending their mandate under pressure from Uganda.
The Somali president and parliamentary speaker signed the deal Thursday in Kampala as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni looked on. A United Nations special representative, Augustine Mahiga, also witnessed the accord.
"We agree to defer elections of the president and the speaker and his deputies for 12 months after August 2011 in order to adequately prepare and complete priority transitional tasks," the parties said in a joint statement.
The two men have been absorbed by a power struggle in anticipation their mandate would expire in August.
Both President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden will remain in office.
They also agreed to sack the Somali Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as "Farmajo"
Despite the row, pro-government forces have been gaining ground in the city.
African Union troops have seized territory from the al-Qaeda linked group, al-Shabab.
Uganda supplies the bulk of the AU troops and its president last week said Somalia's government should be given another year to consolidate gains against militants.
Otherwise, President Yoweri Museveni said Uganda would withdraw its troops.
The UN had said elections should be held this year.
Under the deal, the mandates of the president, the speaker and their deputies have been extended until 20 August 2012, when new elections will be organised.
A new prime minister is to be named within 30 days.