Qatari envoy holds talks with Somali leaders in Mogadishu

The top Qatari envoy is expected to meet leaders of HirShabelle, Southwest, and Galmudug state before his planned talks with the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo at the presidential palace.

News Keydmedia Online
3 May 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A high-level delegation from Qatar is in the Somali capital, Mogadishu for the third day to mediate in a political and electoral crisis that risks the country’s hard-won fragile peace and stability.

The delegation led by Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, the Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar for Counterterrorism and Mediation of Conflict Resolution held talks with government and opposition leaders on Sunday.

Al-Qahtani met with the PM Mohamed Hussein Roble, the speakers of both houses of parliament, opposition candidates as well as Intelligence chief Fahad Yasin since his arrival in the city on Saturday.

The top Qatari envoy is expected to meet leaders of HirShabelle, Southwest, and Galmudug state before his planned talks with the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo at the presidential palace.

Al-Qahtani is trying to find a solution to the dispute over political issues that have caused the election disagreement to turn violent and lead to fierce clashes between opposition and government forces.

The efforts by Doha come after the AU announced it will send a special envoy to Somalia to settle the row between the rival political leaders in the country over the electoral process.

Qatari has been having influence in the term-ended Farmajo's administration for the past four years through the country's intelligence Commander Fahad Yasin, a former Al Jazeera Arabic journalist.

KEYDMEDIA English