President Farmajo Visits the Democratic Republic of Congo

Somalia president Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo has finally arrived i kinshasha the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, to hold a meeting with the chairman of the African Union despite calls from opposition to decline his status quo.

For the last two months, Farmajo has retained his office as president of the Horn of African nation despite the growing local and international pressures to allow elections to be held but to the dismay of many. Somalia’s Lower House of parliament extended his term for yet another two years leading to a virulent criticism from different quarters.

The president reportedly traveled to the DRC on Sunday, marking the first foreign trip since the controversial extension was granted to him by the Lower House of Parliament. According to reports , Farmajo was officially invited to the DRC by President Felix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi consolidated his power this week with the announcement of a new cabinet and enjoys majority support in the DRC’s National Assembly.
The exact purpose of the president’s visit is unknown, and Villa Somalia has not yet commented, but sources say it is related to talks between the Somali and Kenyan governments.

President Farmajo’s visit comes at a time when anti-government protests continue in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. There are reports of government-troop movements at major intersections.