MADOBE TO FARMAAJO: Pull out troops from Gedo first, then we talk

Jubbaland president Ahmed Madobe has set out four conditions to be met by President Mohamed Farmaajo before electoral talks resume, Goobjoog News can authoritatively reveal.

A planned meeting between Farmaajo on the one side and Madobe and his Puntland counterpart Abdullahi Deni one the other slated for last evening hit a brick wall after Madobe demanded Villa Somalia heeds to his demands.

First, Madobe is demanding the withdrawal of Federal Forces and Federal Government-formed administration in Gedo region. According to a source close to Madobe, the Jubbaland leader wants the Federal Government to relinguish authority in Gedo region and hand back to his administration.

The Federal Government deployed troops to Gedo region early this year following a standoff with Jubbaland Security Minister Abdirashid Janaan. The deployment which saw fighting spill over to Kenya was strongly condemned by the US.

Thirdly, the Jubbaland leader wants all the Federal Member State leaders to attend the meeting instead of him and Deni only. The southerly state also wants a review of the Dhusamareb III agreement in the presence of FMS leaders before it is finally adopted.

The demands by Madobe emerged few hours after Villa Somalia spokesman Abdinur Mohamed announced the meeting of the trio Wednesday evening. The fate of the meeting and agreements on the electoral process now hang in the balance as the stand-off persists.

Both Deni and Madobe had earlier held talks with UN head James Swan and diplomats from the US, UK, regional body IGAD among others.

The meeting with Farmaajo was expected to break the stalemate over the electoral formula following failure by Madobe and Deni to attend the Dhusamareb III talks.