The Somali president and the Speaker of the federal parliament have signed an agreement on Thursday morning in Kampala to extend the transition government for one more year.
The agreement has given President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed one year to prepare for elections. The elections which were scheduled for July 19 2011 but will now take place before 20 August 2012.
The signing was witnessed by President Museveni and Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Augustine Mahiga.
The agreement has also ended the deadlock between President Sharif and Speaker Shariff Hassan Sheikh Aden who has been against the extension of date of the elections.
Last week President Museveni told the 19 Contact Group meeting on Somalia that he would withdraw Ugandan peacekeepering troops from the fragile Mogadishu if the UN-pushed presidential and parliamentary elections before 2012. This sparked a renewed assault by al Shabaab militants.
Uganda and Burundi have been pushing for the extension of the transition amidst resistance from the Speaker and International community.
President Sharif and the Speaker  Shariff Hassan Sheikh Aden also agreed to dissolve the cabinet.
“Within thirty days of the signing of this Agreement, the Prime Minister will resign from his position; and the President will appoint a new Prime Minister,” the accord reads.
The New Prime Minister will appoint his cabinet within 30 days of his approval and submit it to President, the agreement said.