Somalia’s PM calls for meeting to resolve electoral gridlock

This came after Somali leader Farmajo whose term into office expired on Feb. 8 said in his address to the Lower House on Saturday that he dropped his extension to allow the PM to organize federal elections.

News Keydmedia Online
3 May 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The caretaker PM Mohamed Hussein Roble called for a consultative meeting with the leaders of the five Federal States and Mogadishu mayor to discuss the rift over the electoral process.

Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, a government spokesman has announced that will be held in the capital on May 20 to unlock the deadlock and pave way for the delayed parliamentary and presidential elections.

He said the PM has invited all Sep 17 electoral deal signatures to the fresh talks aimed at bringing an end to the contentious issues that became obstacles to hold free, fair, and credible elections in Somalia.

This came after Somali leader Farmajo whose term into office expired on Feb. 8 said in his address to the Lower House on Saturday that he dropped his extension to allow the PM to organize federal elections.

Jubbaland led by a Kenyan ally Ahmed Madobe already rejected to return to the poll talks in Mogadishu and demanded the outgoing president fully hand over the national security responsibility to the PM.

The UN and other international partners in Somalia on Sunday have welcomed the planned consultative meeting and urged Somali leaders for each agreement in line with the Sept. 17 agreement.

Somalia is facing abundant challenges, including electoral stalemate and Al-Shabaab threat with looming humanitarian catastrophe after tens of thousands of people were displaced by floods and violence.

The Horn of Africa nation has been trying to rebuild its national institutions, the army and reinstall the democratic system with the support of the international community following three decades of anarchy.

KEYDMEDIA English