Farmaajo scolds donors after failed poll talks

In a letter addressed to the UN Security Council, Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed  Abdirizak said the electoral process is an internal matter. The Federal Government will however be banking on the international community to offset most of the election related expenses including security among other costs.

“The Federal Government of Somalia regards any interference in the process of National Elections by external actors as direct interference into our internal affairs in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions, International Conventions and laws,” the statement read in part.

The Federal Government announced Thursday the international community mediated talks with Federal Member States had failed and blamed Jubbaland and Puntland leaders for ‘obstructing the process’.

The two leaders however rubbished the claims noting they were not aware that the talks had hit a brick wall.

Following the collapse of the talks, the International Community led by the UN demanded a return to the table. In a stern statement, the joint statement noted that there was no other way apart from dialogue.

“We urge the leaders to return to the talks immediately to reach agreement, through compromise, on remaining issues. We reiterate that partners will not support a parallel process, partial elections, or new initiatives leading to an extension of prior mandates,” the joint statement read in part.

The Minister’s push back against the international community comes amid dismal performance by the country’s leaders to resolve their differences and allow the country head to elections.

Sources privy to the FGS intransigence have intimated that the Farmaajo clique has been contemplating declaring UN head in Somalia James SWan persona non grata just like his predecessor Nicholas Haysom who was kicked out of the country January 2018. But such a move might portent catastrophic consequences for a government which is fast losing international and local legitimacy, sources added.

Outgoing President has been in office for two months now in contravention of the constitution.

Several rounds eof talks have yielded no concrete agreements but instead has turned into a political blame game plunging the country into uncertainty.