CIC expresses confidence in Senate, urges it leads mediation role

Federal state leaders under the Council for Inter-State Cooperation (CIC) umbrella has expressed confidence in the mediation role of the Senate urging it to continue engagement with the federal government.

CIC chairman and Puntland president Abdiweli Gaas told the Senate Wednesday in a statement the federal states did not need to send representation to engage with the federal government ministers noting the role of the Senate was sufficient to drive the process forward.

“The Council for Inter-State Cooperation is deeply confident in the neutral role of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament and we think it is a way to reach a solution to the conflict,” Gaas said.

The Puntland leader noted he had received communication from the Senate to appoint ministers from the respective states to form part of the mediation process following a similar appointment by Prime Minister Hassan Khaire of a team of three ministers last week.

The CIC noted the Senate had collected comprehensive views from the states during their ten days mission early last month. The body which brings together presidents of Galmudug, Jubbaland, Puntland and South West states urged the Senate to proceed with the mediation talks with the federal government and communicate resolutions. HirShabelle state president Ahmed Waare delinked himself from the CIC last month dismissing it an opposition outfit which had failed to live to its founding objectives.

The appointment of the ministers followed a three days ultimatum late last month by the Senate to the executive in what it said emerged from lack of response from the government despite receiving the report from the fact finding mission by the Senators.

President Mohamed Farmaajo Sunday said his invitation to the state leaders for talks in Mogadishu was still open.