Talks between FMS leaders and opposition underway in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Council of Presidential Candidates, chaired by former Presidents Hassan Sheikh and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, will hold a meeting with Northeastern State and Jubaland leaders in Mogadishu on Sunday morning.
Negotiations come amid stalemate over the country’s election process, which led to the delay in the vote on the new president last month to replace Farmajo, whose term ended on February 8.
Jubaland and Northeastern State have called for the reopening of the September 17 election agreement to include all parties, including opposition candidates, in the dialogue to find a way forward to resolve the differences.
Northeastern State President Said Abdullahi Deni arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday ahead of the long-awaited talks between the Somali federal government and member states, which are critical stakeholders in the upcoming elections.
The United Nations had volunteered to attend the conference, which is supposed to be held at the heavily fortified Halane Base Camp in Mogadishu. The camp hosts several diplomatic missions, among them the AMISOM and the UN.
Prior to his arrival in Mogadishu, Denis’ sophisticated security team was dispatched in advance and they would be seen with heavy weapons, with the intention of ensuring the safety of Aden Adde International Airport was well maintained.
And upon his arrival, there was still evidence of tight security at the airport, after which the Northeastern State leader was driven to Halane Base Camp, where he spent the night. The meetings are set to start from this week after articulating the agenda from both sides.
Denis’ arrival is a postponement for the international community, which hopes to find a solution to the current election cattle in the country. He was the only regional leader who had not arrived by Friday for the facility for the conference.
Jubaland leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe also arrived last week and gas and has been in operation from Halane Base Camp in Mogadishu. The two are critical of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Farmajo insists that the leadership concentrate on the implementation of the Baidoa agreement, while other leaders want the federal government to implement the agreement before the September 17 election. Farmajo’s period expired on February 8 this year.
AXADLETM
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