Somalia’s Galmudug state parliament extends presidential term for one year

Representatives of Somalia’s Galmudug state voted to extend their President’s term for one year, making it the fourth federal member state to do so.

Galmudug’s parliamentary speaker, Dr. Mohamed Nur Ga’al, said that 56 state MPs voted to extend terms for the Galmudug government, including President Ahmed Abdi Karie ‘Qoorqoor’.

The vote comes barely a day after regional leaders met in Mogadishu for the National Consultative Council.

Qoorqoor now joins regional presidents Abdiaziz Laftagareen of the Southwest and Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland in successfully maneuvering for a year-long extension.

Prior to the vote, Galmudug’s interior minister, Abdi Wayel, hinted that his government was looking into a legal loophole that would allow it to increase Presidential term limits from four to five years, as other regional governments have done.

Politicians and legislators from the three states are putting pressure on the federal government to object to the regional parliaments’ move, which was reportedly pushed back by regional presidents.

The federal government has not clarified its position on the extension of the presidents of the regional state.