Somali opposition leaders ‘no longer recognise president’

Somalia's opposition leaders have announced that they no longer recognise President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, after his term expired without a political agreement on a path toward elections to replace him.

The Horn of Africa nation was supposed to hold indirect elections before February 8 but the deadline was missed as the central government and federal states failed to break a deadlock over how to proceed with a vote.

It now confronts a political crisis alongside a violent Islamist insurgency, a locust invasion and serious food shortages.

A coalition of opposition candidates urged the president, better known by his nickname Farmajo, to "respect the constitution" and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in the fragile country.

"Starting from 8th February 2021, the council of opposition candidates does not recognise Farmajo as president," they said late Sunday in a statement.

"The council will not accept any form of mandate extension through pressure."

The group is allied against Farmajo but comprises candidates running individually for his job, including two of Somalia's former presidents.

They called for the creation of a transitional national council composed of the speakers of parliament, opposition figures, regional leaders, and civil society groups, to steer the country through this period.

Some roads in Mogadishu, including the route to parliament, were closed yesterday, witnesses said, after a tense evening in the capital.