Galmudug and Alhu Sunna agree to resumption of talks-communique

Galmudug and Ahlul Sunna Wal Jamaa have called for resumption of talks in Somalia under the leadership of the federal government following the conclusion of two days meeting in Djibouti.

A communique from the meeting Friday noted the two factions had agreed to engage inside Somalia to find solutions to their disputes.

“[They called for] Immediate commencement and conclusion of the negotiations inside Somalia under the leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia supported by IGAD and the International partners,” the communique read in part.

The meeting which was attended by Galmudug President Ahmed Duale Gelle and Sheikh Mohamed Ali Hassan (Shakir), the Leader of Ahlul Sunna Wal Jamaa with representation from the Federal Government followed another meeting in Nairobi last week.

Ahlul Sunna to date occupies Dhusamareb which is the designated capital of Galmudug state forcing the two and half year old administration to operate from Adado which was the venue of the state formation conference in 2015.

Both parties, the communique added, “noted that the outstanding dispute between the Galmudug Administration and Ahlul Sunna Wal Jamaa continues to impact negatively on the state formation process and governance.”

A former Galmudug lawmaker last week accused IGAD of refusing to hold the talks inside Somalia despite what he termed as their campaign to have the talks conducted within the country.

The goal of the Workshop was to take the participants through negotiation best practices with practical references aimed at successful reconciliation, the communique read in part.