Mogadishu (SD) – Today marks the end of the four-year term of the 10th Federal Parliament of Somalia, which also coincides with the swearing in of both Houses of Parliament.

On December 27, 2016, members of both houses of Somalia’s House of Representatives and the Upper House parliament were sworn in, marking the first time the country has had an Upper House.

The outgoing parliament is putting the country in a new precarious position, as no consensus has yet been reached in the election process to replace the now-defunct parliament.

Speaker of the House of the People Mohamed Mursal, who addressed the parliament last week, declared that the 10th parliament would remain in active until the 11th parliament is sworn in, so as not to create a constitutional vacuum, in accordance with Article 60 of the Constitution and amendments to Law LR 20.

The end of the term of the House of the People and the Upper House comes at a time when the country is mired in a political dispute over the electoral process. The Country’s 10th Parliament expires, without approving the 2021 budget submitted by the Government, which is still being debated.