Hassan bin Hamsa, Qatari Ambassador to Somalia, has begun pushing for President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s term extension after a closed-door meeting with leaders of Federal Member States (FMS).
He met with three of the leaders of FMS who had already visited President Farmaajo at Villa Somalia earlier in the week. The Ambassador has been holding meetings with several top leaders in the country to solve the ongoing political impasse.
Hamsa’s bid to convince Somalis to change their tune regarding extending Farmaajo’s term in office is likely to define future politics in the Horn of Africa nation.
The fact that he made this bid known after his meeting with Galmudug’s President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor, Southwest’s President Abdiaziz Mohamed Lafta-Gareen, and HirShabelle’s President Mohamed Abdi Waare shows that he is not alone in these thoughts.
Political realignments have been paralyzed ever since politicians from opposition parties broke the news that Farmaajo is interested in extending his term in office.
Opposition politicians made this allegation early in July after the Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), Ms. Halima Ismail Ibrahim, said the country would be unable to hold elections on time.
Reports indicate that Ambassador Hamsa would like the three FMS leaders to approach the next round of the Dhusamareb talks with this stand. The talks are expected to resume on August 15 between all the five FMS leaders and the Federal Government of Somali (FGS).