Galmudug, Ahlu Sunna trade barbs over failed peace talks

GOOBJOOG NEWS|GALMUDUG: Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa and the Galmudug administration have traded accusations over failure to reach a deal following the recent fighting in Guriel that left about 100 people dead.

The two sides issued statements accusing each other after it emerged there was no deal after 12 days of talks.

General Bashir Adan aka Laba Afle of the Somali National Army said in a statement Monday morning that Ahlu Sunna had made ‘unrealistic demands’ but did not make specific reference to the demands.

He noted that Ahlu Sunna had declined to negotiate with President Ahmed Qoorqoor accusing him of waging war against them when they had already chosen a ‘path of peace’.

But in a sharp rejoinder, Ahlu Sunna spokesman Abdi Salaan Aden Hussein said the Afle team did not meet them.

The government officials further said that Galmudug President, Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoor Qoor Qoor had given a nod to the talks, a claim out-rightly denied by the Sufist group.

The two sides fought last month in Guriel town for four days before government forces wrested control of the town.