The International Crisis Group published on 31 May 2022 a commentary titled "A Welcome Chance for a Reset in Somalia" by Omar Mahmood.
The author looks at the challenges facing newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and makes some suggestions for dealing with those challenges.
The New York Times published on 15 May 2022 an article titled "Somalia Elects New President, But Terrorists Hold True Power" by Abdi Latif Dahir.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who served as president of Somalia between 2012 and 2017, was selected on 15 May by 328 members of parliament to replace President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. He defeated 3 dozen candidates after 3 rounds of voting. His first challenge will be confronting the al-Shabaab terrorist organization, which continues to impose its grip on parts of Somalia.
The Elephant posted on 19 March 2022 a commentary titled "Somalia's Electoral Impasse" by Harun Ibrahim, University of Cape Town.
The author argues that the prospects of holding an election in Somalia based on universal suffrage remain a distant dream. Somalia is once again at a crossroads due to political disagreement over the electoral process. There is growing political tension between the Somali president and prime minister. The political process has involved widespread corruption and nepotism. External players such as the UAE and Qatar have become increasingly involved in the support of preferred factions.
Agence France Presse published on 16 March 2022 an article titled "Somalia Delays Election Process again as Deadline Lapses."
Somalia pushed back completion of lower house of parliament elections until March 31. After several delays, they were scheduled to be completed by 15 March but 39 out of 275 seats remain to be filled.
Agence France Presse published on 25 February 2022 an article titled "Somalia Extends Election Deadline to Next Month."
Somalia extended to March 15 its deadline to finish voting for the lower house of parliament following earlier delays of more than a year.
Agency France Press published on 9 January 2022 an article titled "Somalia's Leaders Agree to Have Delayed Elections by February 25."
The Somali president and prime minister have reached agreement to complete parliamentary elections by February 25 after repeated delays that have threatened the stability of the country.
The Washington Post published on 27 December 2021 an article titled "Somalia's Election Standoff Intensifies, Raising Risk of Political Violence" by Sakariye Cismaan and Max Bearak.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement on 26 December 2021 expressing deep concern at the continuing delays and procedural irregularities that have undermined the credibility of the electoral process.
The decision by Somalia's president to suspend the powers of his prime minister is postponing the electoral process and exacerbating the constitutional conflict. It increases the possibility of political violence in a country that is already threatened by the al-Shabaab terrorist group.
The International Crisis Group published on 15 November 2021 a briefing titled "Reforming the AU Mission in Somalia."
The African Union Mission in Somalia's UN mandate is nearing its end. AMISOM's withdrawal could allow Islamist al-Shabaab insurgents to take over the country. A mandate extension would allow Somalia, donors, and partners to agree on a reconfiguration and funding.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 15 October 2021 an analysis titled "UN Court Decision a Fresh Test for Kenya-Somalia Ties" by Meron Elias.
An ICG expert discusses the potential impact on Kenya-Somalia relations of the recent International Court of Justice decision that upheld Somalia's claims of a long-running maritime border dispute between the two countries.
The Washington Post published on 18 September 2021 an article titled "How an Intelligence Officer's Disappearance in Somalia Has Ripped the Government Apart" by Rachel Chason and Omar Faruk.
The disappearance of a Somali intelligence officer has resulted in a power struggle between the Somali president and prime minister that has torn the government apart.
The Associated Press published on 18 September 2021 an article titled "UN Council Urges Somalia's Feuding Leaders to Settle Disputes" by Edith M. Lederer.
All 15 members of the UN Security Council urged Somalia to move forward with its oft postponed elections and end the dispute between the Somali president and prime minister.
The Council on Foreign Relations blog posted on 15 September 2021 a commentary titled "Somalia's Ongoing Political Crisis Exposes Fundamental Problem for U.S. Policy" by Michelle Gavin.
Somalia's fragile government is again on the brink, consumed by the president and prime minister's tussle for the control of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
Aljazeera published on 16 September 2021 an article titled "Somalia Crisis Deepens as President Withdraws PM's Powers."
Somalia's president has suspended the prime minister's power to hire and fire officials, plunging Somalia into a new crisis.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 14 September 2021 a statement titled "Somalia's Politicians Play with Fire - Again."
Tension between Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" have burst into the open, triggering another clash between rival branches of the federal forces. They follow the unexplained murder of a national intelligence agent and Roble's subsequent suspension of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief. The murdered NISA officer was apparently poised to blow the whistle on the training of Somali troops in Eritrea, most of whom have not returned to Somalia. There is speculation they were sent to the front lines in Ethiopia's war in Tigray Region.
African Arguments published on 23 June 2021 a commentary titled "Somalia's Divided Army Reflects Its Divided Politics" by Liban Obsiye and Liban A. Hussein.
The Somali National Army reflects its national politics. As Somalia approaches its delayed and contentious national elections, its politics are divided, unstable and uncertain.
The Washington Post published on 27 May 2021 an article titled "Somalia Averts Crisis as Leaders Agree to Hold Delayed Elections within Months" by Max Bearak.
Somali political leaders have agreed on a plan for parliamentary elections to begin within 60 days followed by selection of a president. This heads off a political crisis that threatened to return Somalia to violence.
The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute published in May 2021 a paper titled "How the Somali PM Could Seize the Fleeting Momentum."
Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble is now at the center of Somali national politics. He has, at least temporarily, the confidence of all stakeholders to bring about a breakthrough to resolve the underlying political crisis in Somalia. To do so, he needs to be seen an an independent political actor who maintains an equal distance from President Farmajo and the political opposition. The question is whether the prime minister can seize the fleeting momentum that prevails in Somalia following an intense period of political and security crises.
Foreign Policy posted on 18 May 2021 a commentary titled "Don't Blame Me for Delaying Somalia's Elections" by Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of Somalia.
The president argued that "Somalia's elections have been delayed not because I wish to cling to power, as some have falsely argued, but because of a political impasse that has led to a division between Somalia's federal government and some of its member states on the way forward."
The Middle East Institute (MEI) posted on 12 May 2021 an analysis titled "A Rigged Election in Somalia Could Open the Door to Civil War" by Guled Ahmed, nonresident scholar at MEI.
Somalia has pulled back from the brink by agreeing to move forward with parliamentary elections. The author is concerned, however, that Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo may try to rig the upcoming elections, leading to civil war.
Aljazeera published on 10 May 2021 an article titled "The Tripartite Alliance that Is Destabilising the Horn of Africa" by Goitom Gebreluel, Hateta Policy Research.
A significant threat to international security is unfolding in the Horn of Africa. The author blames the common political vision of the leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.
