Somali lawmakers have voted to extend by two years the term of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) which was due to expire in August. The TFG was formed in Kenya in 2004 in a bid to restore stability in war-torn Somalia. It has however been unable to exert authority across the country.
"We wanted the term of the TFG to be extended until August 2011 so that we can facilitate free and fair elections. We cannot continue with this huge parliament for more than two years," Parliament Speaker Aden Mohamed Nur said.
The lawmakers are currently meeting in Djibouti, due to insecurity in Somalia, to elect a new president to replace Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who resigned last month.
Clan bickering and violence have scuppered numerous efforts to restore normalcy in Somalia. The Horn of African state has not had a functioning national government since the 1991 ouster of former president Mohamed Siad Barre.
In recent years, ensuing instability, coupled with drought, high food prices as well as the collapse of the local currency have significantly worsened the dire humanitarian situation in Somalia.