Garowe (SD) – The speaker of parliament Mohamed Mursal attending the Heritage conference in Garowe was asked, what will happen on February 8, 2021?, when Somali president’s term expires.

Mursal replied that nothing would happen other than what happened in 2016, when Hassan Sheikh’s government extended its term by several months.

“What happened on February 8, 2016, is going to happen on Feb 8, 2021, the parliament’s term ended in August then, and they have been in office since December, president Hassan Shaikh also stayed in office six extra months, due to law number 20, which he signed into law, same is going to happen to Farmajo.” Said Speaker Mursal.

Former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud responding to the question said he did not agree with the response of speaker Mohamed Mursal, and that there are many differences between the two circumstances.

Hassan Sheikh also said that the October 2016 parliamentary elections were taking place in the country at the time, and there are many differences between the two election seasons.

The country’s controversial Electoral Commission recently announced that the registration of senators for the Upper House would be completed by January 5th, and will conclude on January 14, after which the election of members of parliament will take place.