We are concerned about the gathering political storm in Somalia, where peaceful election demonstrations are scheduled to take place in Mogadishu on Friday, February 19, 2021.
Demonstrators oppose Federal Government’s failure to hold national parliamentary and presidential elections during its four-year mandate. Holding timely elections every four years is a political tradition honored by former Somali Governments since the 2000 national election.

The term of office for President of Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ ended on February 7, 2021, without an agreed electoral timeline with fellow
Somali political stakeholders, including the Federal Member States.
We urge the Federal Government to abide by the rule of law and allow peaceful demonstrations
to take place without any interference or suppression of political opposition and other forms of
peaceful dissent, and to protect Somali citizens against any harm.

The stakes are too high for the Federal Government to unilaterally go against the will of the
Somali people, who are expressing their political views and their constitutional rights peacefully.
We also strongly encourage protestors to engage in peaceful demonstrations in Mogadishu, to
be mindful of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, practice social distancing, and wear masks
during the demonstrations.

Failure of the Government to abide by rule of law could trigger serious security implications in
Somalia, and the wider region. The Horn of Africa sub-region remains fragile, and Somalia is
particularly experiencing state fragility; in a recent regional example, the ongoing Ethiopian
conflict in the Tigray region was sparked in November 2020 by an election dispute between Addis
Ababa and Tigray regional state, resulting in armed conflict, loss of life, humanitarian
catastrophe and property destruction.

Finally, we call upon FGS and Federal Member States to conclude election timeline negotiations
in accordance with September 17 Agreement, and reiterate our public appeal to Somali political
leaders to include delegates from presidential candidates, political associations, and civil society
in broader national election consultations.

Dr. Abdinasir Abdille Mohamed
Gurmad Party Leader
Presidential Candidate 2021
Member of the Council of Presidential Candidate