African Union appeals for support to new envoy to lead Somali poll talks

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ADDIS ABABA: The African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki has welcomed the appointment of former Ghanaian President Mahama as the AU High Representative to Somalia where he will be leading the mediation process between the government and opposition groups.

The AU Commission chair also urged Somalis to cooperate with the new envoy to ensure the electoral impasse is resolved. According to Faki, the new envoy with work with all stakeholders ‘”to reach a mutually acceptable compromise towards an all-encompassing resolution for the holding of Somali elections in the shortest possible time”. The envoy will be supported by AMISOM, the AUC head added.

Faki urged all parties to cooperate with the new envoy. “The Chairperson of the Commission calls on the Somali stakeholders to negotiate in good faith, and to put the interests of Somalia and the well-being of the Somali people above all else in the search for an inclusive settlement to the electoral crisis,” the commission said.

The outcome of the talks ‘should usher in a democratically elected government with the legitimacy and mandate to resolve the remaining outstanding political and constitutional issues that are posing a threat to the stability of the country and the region as a whole.”

The appointment of the AU envoy comes amid the easing of tensions in Somalia as the government and opposition agreed this past week to withdraw forces from Mogadishu and to create a ‘peaceful environment’ for new talks.

Prime Minister Mohamed Roble announced the talks with the Federal Member States will resume on May 20.