Somalia govt postpones vote to 2012 amid security crisis

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

MOGADISHU, April 24 (Reuters) - Somalia's U.N.-backed government said on Sunday it planned to postpone elections to next year, saying it had to tackle insecurity first, further deepening its dispute with parliament.

 

A 2009 deal envisioned the mandate of the Somali government and parliament would expire on Aug. 20 this year, by which time they were supposed to have enacted a new constitution and held elections.

 

In March the transitional cabinet extended its term by a further year saying it wanted to ensure continuity in its fight against insurgents, joining the parliament in lengthening its mandate.

 

"The cabinet ministers have underlined that election is impossible because of insecurity," a cabinet statement said. "This decision strengthens our previous decision that elections should be postponed by one year. This is to ensure that ongoing security and political developments (are completed)."

 

The U.N. has called for elections to be held to bring an end to the transitional phase, but it is unclear how such a vote could take place in the war-torn country.

 

President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's Transitional Federal Government is seen by the international community as the best hope of restoring order in the anarchic Horn of Africa country after two decades of armed conflict.

Ahmed has expressed interest in running for a second term.

 

On Saturday, the president and prime minister failed to convince parliament to approve extending the government's term.

 

Often rated as a failed state, Somalia has lacked effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Somalia is embroiled in war with Islamist al Shabaab rebels who want to topple its Western-backed government, and piracy is rife off its lawless coast.

 

On Saturday the government said legislators failed to turn up for a meeting to resolve differences between the executive and the government and the parliament.

 

"It was not passed by the parliament and so it is illegal. The government can only propose," lawmaker Ismail Ahmed said of the decision to postpone elections. (Editing by George Obulutsa)

[ANWAR]

then we have time 2 retake Mogdishu

[Jacaylbaro]

What a contradiction ............ Farmaajo was calling the UN to relocate to Mogadishu last week saying the city is save and now postponing "elections" coz of insecurity ??? ,,

[Somalina]

Jacaylbaro;714253 wrote:

What a contradiction ............ Farmaajo was calling the UN to relocate to Mogadishu last week saying the city is save and now postponing "elections" coz of insecurity ??? ,,

Jacaylbaro;714280 wrote:

BACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC ........

Hay'adaha lacagta ku qaata magaca Soomaaliyeed iyo election ayaad rabtaa inaad isbarbardhigto. Eesh calaa caqli eh!

[Jacaylbaro]

Hadaan Mini-election la qaban karin ,,, why call UN offices to relocate ???

 

Farmaajo = Bacaaac indeed

[Somalina]

Your comment is BACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!

 

UN office must relocate, waa muqadas. If they can have offices in Congo, they can certainly have offices in Mogadishu.

[Jacaylbaro]

And Shir laguma qaban karo Muqdisho because Amaan darrada ka jirta ????

[Somalina]

Warku waa cad yahay.

 

Bacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaac!

[Jacaylbaro]

At least sida qolo aan ogahay inuu iska indho adaygo ayay ahayd oo uu yidhaa amaanku waa 100% ...........

[Somalina]

Like wasiirka arrimaha dibada ee SL indha adeegiisii uu ku tagey shirkii Soomaliyeed ee London, kadibna yiri, waxaan la mid ahayn ergaga ka socday wadamada jaarka oo ay ka mid ahaayeen Ethiopia iyo Kenya, when in reality none of those countries sent delegates to that meeting. Classic bacaaaaaaac!

[Jacaylbaro]

So now we agree Muqdisho amaan maaha ??

[Somalina]

Bacaaaaaaaaaaaaaac!

[Jacaylbaro]

Good ..... Both Farmaajo and Me agree on this