Somali opposition is teaming up with federal states to form a national salvation council
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MOGADISHU, Somalia – Opposition candidates in Somalia are working with some federal Member States to declare the formation of a National Salvation Council [NSC] on Thursday.
The NSC elected a board of directors consisting of Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the leaders of Northeastern State and Jubaland Said Deni and Ahmed Madobe respectively.
In a statement, the NSC said the formation of this council aims to lead Somalia to stable, peaceful and inclusive elections after the country missed two voting deadlines that led to an electoral crisis.
“Today we set up the National Salvation Council, which brings together the regional states of Northeastern State and Jubbaland, the Council of Presidential Candidates’ Union and the North Western of SomaliaPolitical Council,” said Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, one of the presidential candidates.
The announcement of the coalition came after the parties had held separate meetings in the capital over the past few days as international partners push Somali leaders to convene an inclusive dialogue.
Opposition candidates are uniting their voices with federal states to take part in the planned talks, which will focus on ways to find a common solution to the controversial issues surrounding the upcoming election.
The outgoing president is apparently unwilling to invite opposition candidates to the election talks, arguing that they were not part of the September 17 election process agreement signed between his government and federal states in Mogadishu.
According to a statement, the creation of the NSC came after Farmajo was accused of violating the constitution, disrupting free elections, using the military for political purposes, ordering attacks on former presidents and peaceful demonstrations in Mogadishu.
NSC’s main objectives are to ensure the holding of free and fair elections, to protect the country’s peace and sovereignty, and to maintain political stability in the troubled Horn of Africa.
To address the current political crisis, the central government leadership must face reality and accept that their four-year term is over, the NSC statement obtained by Axadleadded.
Last month, the official time in President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s office ended without a successor in place or political agreement, and the opposition declared the government illegal.
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