The State Department announced the expansion of visa
restrictions to an unknown number of Somali individuals in a statement, saying
it was in response to Somalia failing to meet its self-established Tuesday
deadline to finish parliamentary elections.
The U.S. punitive measure was applied on the heels of
Somalia's Federal Electoral Implementation Team on Tuesday night postponing the
announcement of election results for both Houses of Parliament until March 31.
Newly elected members of both Houses are now to be sworn in April 14.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's term in office
expired a year ago in February, but presidential elections have been held up
over issues between the president and his prime minister, Mohamed Hussein
Roble.
The Parliamentary elections are to proceed those to decide
the president.
On Feb. 8, the one-year anniversary of the extirpation of
Mohamed's term in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken restricted the
issuance of visas to former and current Somali government officials.
Blinken said Wednesday that while there has been progress in
recent weeks to seat parliamentarians, more than three dozen seats are still
vacant.
There have also been credible reports of procedural
irregularities and journalists and opposition party members continue to be the
targets of harassment, arrest and violence, he said.
"We will continue to evaluate additional designations
under this policy and other tools at our disposal to promote accountability and
support the rapid conclusion of Somalia's electoral process in a credible and
transparent manner," he said. "The United States strongly supports
the Somali people and remains committed to working to advance democracy and
mutual prosperity."