EDITORIAL: Time for foreign intervention to resolve Somalia’s electoral stalemate

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The failure by the Federal Government and State leaders for the umpteenth time to set aside their differences and give the country a workable electoral roadmap is now a clear signal that unless with direct external intervention, Somalia may not have any elections this year.

Somalis have patiently waited for the longest for an answer from outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo and the five Federal Member State leaders on when and how elections will be conducted to no avail. They have given them the chance, the confidence and on different occasions, the benefit of the doubt.

These leaders have met severally but failed to agree on the way forward. They have virtually exhausted all avenues there are and laid waste the public confidence and trust.

Selfish interests and political ambitions have clouded attempts to realizing any meaningful deal. For example, it took Farmaajo two days to push for the withdrawal of charges against former Jubbaland Minister Abdirashid Janan and declare him a ‘clean man’ but that kind of zeal has not been felt in the electoral talks.

Extra two months in office for Farmaajo have yielded nothing but protracted battles and a zero-sum game.

FOREIGN INTERVENTION

It is time for help. Whereas the idea of international intervention has been frowned upon, it remains a viable option and has for a long time remedied many situations the country has ever found itself.

It is time the international community steps in, in a much more pronounced form and demand that the country’s leadership get its act done. The world must now know that statements alone do not move these leaders. Watching from the distance as the country fast descends into the precipice will no doubt be very costly in the long run and no one can afford that given where we have come from.

A continued political and constitutional crisis especially at a time the country is battling the COVID-19 scourge, locust invasions, floods and droughts and the perennial extremist implosions will only exacerbate the situation and plunge the country into an unthinkable situation.

The UN Security Council, key donors and all foreign entities of goodwill must now stand up in unison and demand an end to the long-running political circus.

Somalis and Somalia need peace and stability to recover and grow.