Somalia’s parliament has backed constitutional changes that could ​extend President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term in office by a year ‌and push back planned elections.

The vote happened on Wednesday, and on Thursday analysts who follow the Horn of Africa country closely ​were still debating exactly what the implications are.

Somalia has ​endured conflict and clan battles with no strong ⁠central government since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad ​Barre in 1991.

While an African Union peacekeeping mission has pushed ​back the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, it still controls vast areas of the countryside and has the ability to conduct regular strikes ​on major population centres.

Mohamud celebrated parliament’s backing ​of the constitutional changes at a press conference on Wednesday, saying the ‌approval ⁠process “had dragged for a long period”.

Samira Gaid, an Analyst with Balqiis, a Mogadishu-based think tank, said the implications of the constitutional amendments, which have been criticised by opposition lawmakers, ​remained unclear.

“The constitutional ​change doesn’t ⁠automatically extend the current president’s term but it is a matter of interpretation. For now, ​the Mohamud is being very careful not to ​say ⁠that he is extending his term because of potential criticism from the international community,” she said.

Gaid said the elections slated ⁠for ​May would be delayed regardless because ​there is no agreed framework currently.

–Reuters–