MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somalia’s presidency held dinner for leaders of Puntland and Jubbaland states last night amid reports claim the leaders of regions backpedalled by tabling tough condition.
According to sources, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Puntland’s Saed Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Madobe of Jubbaland had dinner for the first since the leaders of these states arrived in Mogadishu for talks with the federal government.
The meeting on the upcoming elections was expected to kick off last night in Villa Somalia, as per the plan of the presidency.
Abdi Nur Mohamed, the communication director of the president said Wednesday after that “President Farmaajo will tonight host the leadership of Jubaland and Puntland at the State House. Key Agenda of the talks will be Somalia elections to ensure the FGS-FMS leadership champion an election that safeguards the future of the nation and steers Somalia forward.”
But according to the sources, the situation changed when the leader of Jubbaland Ahmed Madobe tabled couple of conditions to participate the meeting, among them is calling on the federal government to withdraw Haram’ad forces from Gedo region of southern Somalia.
The forces were deployed in the region some months back to maintain security and peace in the areas but engaged in fierce fighting with soldiers loyal to Jubaland’s security minister, Abdirashid Janan.
The sources also say there had been ongoing efforts since last night resolve the differences between the leaders.
It is unclear the position of Puntland’s leader Saed Deni as he is yet to announced his stance.
Both the regional state leaders and President Farmajo were suppose to hold crucial talks to chart a common path for the upcoming elections.
They also held meetings with UN representatives in Somalia, the US and UK ambassadors among other diplomats.
The duo have been rebelling against a new agreement reached last month to have elections conducted via a system known as constituency caucuses, which could improve on the traditional.
According to a communique in Dhusameeb last Month, president Farmajo and leaders of Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states agreed each Caucus of 301 delegates will elect each MP.
The agreement stipulates that delegates will be nominated jointly by national and federal state electoral bodies.
The agreement indicates that deal will have to be approved by House of the People of Parliament.
Discussion about this post