Somalia’s donors wary as Mohamud starts controversial fresh year in office

Somalia’s Federal Government has begun a disputed one-year mandate extension, pushing elections back to 2027, triggering protests from opposition groups and regional states. International donors, including the EU and the World Bank, have voiced concerns about rising political tensions in a country already beset by violence. In March, Somalia’s Parliament approved a constitutional amendment extending presidential and parliamentary terms to five years, a decision rejected by opposition groups and regional states.