Jubaland sets new conditions on fresh electoral talks

In the past, Jubaland voiced its opposition to the presence of the Somali national army forces in the Gedo region and has been calling for their removal to allow Ahmed Madobe to oversee the Garbaharey election.

News Keydmedia Online
2 May 2021

KISMAYO, Somalia – The southern regional state of Jubaland has set out fresh conditions for the return to the electoral talks between Somalia’s outgoing government and the country’s five the Federal States.

In an interview with VOA Somali Service, Jubaland’s minister of information Abdi Hussein said they will not be part of any planned dialogue as long as Farmajo continues to be commander-in-chief of the army.

The minister has cast doubt on the president’s decision on Saturday to transfer election and security issues to the PM Mohamed Hussein Roble, who is expected to call for a conference in Mogadishu.

"We know that Farmajo had only handed over the security of the elections to the PM, but he was still in charge of the overall security of the country, which means that the government could not pull out troops deployed to the Gedo region in 2020," he added.

In the past, Jubaland voiced its opposition to the presence of the Somali national army forces in the Gedo region and has been calling for their removal to allow Ahmed Madobe to oversee the Garbaharey election.

Hussein’s remarks came after Roble declared his government will work on bringing all signatures of the September 17 pact to the negotiating table to discuss ways to hold an inclusive election in Somalia.

Jubaland and Puntland have been accused of obstructing Somalia's elections as both regional states continuously come up with stiff conditions when invited to talks aimed at ending the ongoing election crisis.

KEYDMEDIA English