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What Somalia's Election Failure Means for Regional Stability

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo caused internal turmoil and global concern after bypassing Parliament this week to remain in power.
Somalia's president after election day Play Podcast
REUTERS

After failing to hold elections in February, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo passed legislation this week to extend his power for at least two more years, prompting global concern. Somali academic Abdi Aynte and former US diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford join Deep Dish to unpack the players in Somalia’s politics and what role the international community should — or shouldn’t— have in its future. 

About the Experts
Elizabeth Shackelford
Former Senior Fellow, US Foreign Policy
Council staff Elizabeth Shackelford
Elizabeth Shackelford, a former career diplomat who served the US Mission to Somalia and the US Embassy in South Sudan, focuses on building awareness and understanding of a "restraint" approach to foreign policy, which seeks to limit the use of force to core US security interests and favors diplomatic engagement.
Council staff Elizabeth Shackelford
Abdi Aynte
Co-founder and Managing Director at Laasfort Consulting Group
Abdi Aynte
Former Somali government minister, UN leader, and co-founder of The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies.
Abdi Aynte
Brian Hanson
Former Vice President, Studies
Brian Hanson headshot
Brian Hanson served as the vice president of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He managed the Council's research operations and hosted the Council's weekly podcast, Deep Dish on Global Affairs.
Brian Hanson headshot