Somalia Election Crises: A State-Building Opportunity or the Beginning of State Disintegration

Somalia, a country in the midst of transitioning to statehood, is grappling with a severe political and constitutional crisis. The country’s leaders have failed to break a deadlock over the electoral process, leaving the nation in a state of uncertainty that threatens to escalate into widespread violence. The mandates of both the parliament and the president expired on December 27, 2020, and February 8, 2021, respectively. As a result, the government’s term ended without holding elections, and subsequent election negotiations between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) broke down. With no agreement reached on the electoral process and no competent institutions in place to address the growing political disputes, Somalia finds itself ensnared in a fragility trap. The ongoing electoral crisis represents a significant setback to the country’s state-building efforts, undermining progress and stability.