MPs in Somalia have voted to extend their mandate for another three years, after getting the approval of the African Union last week.<\/p>\n
Their current term expires in August, raising fears that the UN-backed government could become illegal.
\nIt has failed to achieve its target of enacting a new constitution and organising elections by August.
\nThe government only controls parts of the capital and is battling Islamist groups which dominate southern Somalia.
\nOf the 435 MPs present, 421 voted in favour, 11 against and three abstained, said Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan.
\nThe MPs elect a president, who in turn chooses a government.
\nCorrespondents say President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, is expected to seek re-election.
\nMr Adan said this would be done in July.
\n“Parliament will carry out huge reforms in order to serve the people of Somalia,” he said. “This is a victory for future Somali democracy.”
\nShortly before the African Union agreed to extend the mandate of the Somali parliament, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping accused the government of “non-performance” and failing to make enough progress in bringing peace to the country.
\nThe current parliament was chosen during a peace conference in 2004.
\nSomalia has not had a functioning national government since Siad Barre was ousted 20 years ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MPs in Somalia have voted to extend their mandate for another three years, after getting the approval of the African Union last week. Their current term expires in August, raising fears that the UN-backed government could become illegal. It has failed to achieve its target of enacting a new constitution and organising elections by August. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n