Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament has voted to approve a bill to extend President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term in office by two years.
The controversial special election bill was overwhelmingly approved by 149 members and it now needs to be approved by the upper chamber before becoming law.
Farmajo welcomed the passing of the bill in the lower chamber, adding that after two years the Somali people will finally be able to elect their own president.
But opposition candidates and some of the regional state leaders have rejected the resolution.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, who is now part of an opposition coalition, said the country is in crisis and urged the international community to urgently intervene.