In Somalia, the deputies elected after a laborious election process started last year must finally take the oath this Thursday in Mogadishu. Despite the fact that several seats have not yet been filled, a solemn ceremony is scheduled for Thursday morning, nearly four months late and a year after the expiration of the presidential term.
The Somali government has erected a huge air-conditioned tent in the national colors, blue and white, in the ultra-secure area of Mogadishu airport. It is there, under close surveillance, that the elected representatives of the two chambers of Parliament must take the oath from 10 am. It will be up to them in the coming weeks to elect a successor to President Mohamed Farmajowhose term officially expired in February 2021.
But not all MPs will be present. About 20 seats are still unfilled due to political disputes, including 16 in the hotly contested city of Garbaharey, in Jubaland, the native region of President Farmajo.
In addition, three elected MPs are expected to boycott the ceremony by order of the Governor of South West State. The latter withdrew from the electoral process in early April to protest against the Prime Minister, who had entered into open rivalry with the President. The governor accuses him of interference, particularly after the suspension of the election of Fahad Yassin, the former intelligence chief and very controversial adviser to the head of state, accused of being involved in acts of intimidation and several political murders.