Keydmedia Online Topic page

The media workers were threatened and intimidated at gunpoint, denied access to the information and sometimes their equipment was confiscated on daily incidences by Somali security forces in Mogadishu.

The situation has returned to normal on Monday despite fears that the battle could restart at any time, and there are growing calls for calm from the international community and local elders, and civil society.

The PM and all five Federal States said they were ready to return to the negotiating table to discuss the way forward and reach a consensus on the electoral process based on the Sept 17 model endorsed by all sides.

The outgoing President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has recently met the AU Chairperson, who is the DRC President, and asked to support his extension in order to stay in office for two years.

Farmajo flew to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday, April 18 to meet with president Felix Tshisekedi, who is also chairman of the African Union, on Monday afternoon.

The meeting came after the Lower House of parliament voted unanimously to extend the term for Farmajo last week, a move that caused division and uncertainty in the country. 

Hundreds of police and intelligence personnel have been deployed on the major roads leading to the presidential palace early in the morning to deny the opposition lawmakers entry to the parliament house.

NISA boss, who is the right-hand man of Farmajo was receiving updates about the talks from State Minister for Transport, Abdirahman ‘Dheere’ at the forum and dictating the PM, according to the MP.

Speaking to the reporters in the capital on Sunday, a former leader who now chairs opposition candidates’ alliance urged city’s residents to turn out in large numbers for the Friday protest in the city.

The proposal came after Farmajo’s term ended with no clear path for election and political agreement to move the country out of the power vacuum period which could lead to anarchy and bloodshed.

Sources say there is little hope for the ongoing meeting to yield fruits, as some issues on the agenda are difficult for the heads of the Federal States and the government to settle unless Farmajo compromises.

As his mandate expires on February 8, Farmajo faces blames that he has bypassed the electoral law by stacking the poll committee with his allies. The biased team set to manage the parliamentary elections.