Northeastern State and Galmudug agree to help mediate Somalia’s election change
GALKAYO, Somalia – The president of Northeastern State and Galmudug Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Abdi Kariye alias “Qoor-Qoor” have held a key meeting in the divided city of Galkayo on Thursday morning.
In a joint communication issued at the conclusion of the talks, the leaders of the two neighboring federal states announced that they agreed to work together on mediation in the ongoing electoral conflict in Somalia.
In a surprising move, the two leaders offered to “mediate or mediate” the furious stalemate between the opposition candidates, Jubaland on the one hand, and the Somali federal government over the election process.
In addition, the two sides also agreed to cooperate on security and the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS after a series of deadly bombs in Galkayo, a city that stretches across the border between the two states.
During the Somalia Partnership Forum held in Mogadishu this month, the international partners expressed a similar call to resolve the differences through dialogue and abide by the September 17 election agreement.
The country is in deadlock over the upcoming election and the looming withdrawal of US troops, which many analysts have warned would jeopardize Somalia’s fragile security due to the lack of a strong national army.
At the end of the current Farmajo-led government’s mandate this year, Somalia is once again at a crossroads due to the ever-recurring political disagreements over electoral processes.
An alliance of 14 hopeful presidents has expressed their disapproval of the election commissions appointed by Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein, which they say included spy agents and officials.
North Western of Somaliaand Gedo are among the contentious issues as the opposition urges government forces to withdraw in Jubaland and allow Senate President Abdi Hashi to appoint a polling station for the election of northern parliamentarians.
The presidential candidate council is demanding that Fahad Yasin, director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, be removed or resign immediately to become campaign manager for Farmajo, the incumbent seeking re-election.
The opposition candidates, as unconstitutional, rejected a new election plan released by a controversial election commission on Wednesday, announcing that the vote on Senate members will take place between December 31 and January 6.
AXADLETM
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