Somalia’s parliament has voted to extend the term of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and lawmakers by a year, pushing back planned elections.
The move has been met with opposition from former presidents and prime ministers, who argue that the amendment is unconstitutional and call for elections to be held as planned in May.
The constitution change, approved by 222 lawmakers, extends the presidential term from four to five years.
Mohamud had previously reached a deal with some opposition leaders to hold direct elections for lawmakers in 2026, while the president would be chosen by parliament.
The country has been plagued by conflict and clan battles since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, and the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group still controls vast areas of the countryside.
