Farmajo urged to return to the election talks in Somalia

Through compromising, the leaders must again keep the talks rolling until to resolve the long-standing deadlock surrounding the general election, they suggested.

News Keydmedia Online
10 April 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Puntland State has called on the outgoing President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to return to the negotiating table in Afisyoni aimed at setting an agreed agenda for the next dialogue on the electoral rift.

In a statement, Jama Deperani, who is the state’s spokesperson posted a statement on his Facebook account, saying that the regional leaders are still looking forward to Farmajo's return to the talks. He urged the outgoing leader not to put progress made off.

The UN's assistance mission [UNSOM] and its members expressed deep concern over the statement released by the Villa Somalia which announced that the informal meeting between the regional leaders and the outgoing President ended without result last week.

“The engagement of the talks between the conflicting parties is the only assurance for the Somali people that holding peaceful elections based on free and inclusiveness must take place in the country,” reads the statement of Deperani in part — warning of further setback.

“We firmly believe that these discussions are vital for the current political stalemate, and we have to understand that the decline of one side in their commitment about the talks means a decline in the significant developments this country has achieved over the last decade,” said the statement — calling on sides to set the never-ending individual interest aside following the outgoing President’s deliberate withdrawal from the meeting before pronouncing it failed.

Through compromising, the leaders must again keep the talks rolling until to resolve the long-standing deadlock surrounding the general election, they suggested.

Somalia has faced one of the worst years in the election with Farmajo whose term ended two months ago determined to destroy any outcome made towards holding inclusive and free election hinting at possible extension term to stay in power for another two years.

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