Electoral talks on the verge of collapse as leaders walk out

The fate of elections set to start this month is on the balance as talks among the country’s leaders at Villa Somalia hit a deadlock Sunday following reports two leaders have walked out of the talks.

Sources close to the talks which are now entering the fourth day have told Goobjoog News Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe has left for his state, Kismayu while his Puntland counterpart Abdiweli Gaas walked out of the talks Sunday as differences over the distribution of seats to the Upper House deepen.

During the August National Leadership Forum talks, the leaders indicated they were adding two seats to Somaliland communities, a development which has now threatened to derail the upcoming polls as Galmudug and Puntland dig in on supremacy fights.

The two sub clans, Warsangali and Dhulbahante which the NLF reserved two seats occupy the Sool and Sanaag areas which are contested by both Somaliland and Puntland.

On its part, representatives from Somaliland are demanding all of its three regions, including Sool and Sanaag be awarded three seats, making it 15.

But Galmudug sees the two seats as benefitting Puntland which it has had differences since the formation of the former in 2014.

Galmudug, sources note is of the opinion that even the three seats earlier given to Puntland which makes it superior in numbers to Galmudug be dropped and each state gets an equal share.

In June, the NLF distributed the 54 seats equally among all the six states meaning each state was entitled to 8 seats with a balance of 6 which were distributed equally between Somaliland and Puntland on account of their political maturity and status.

A collapse of the talks will likely complicate the prospects of conducting the upcoming polls which start with that of the Lower House in September 24 to October 10. The Upper House members is set for September 25.

Further, the IGAD heads of States and Governments Summit which was postponed from Saturday is slated for Tuesday. The Summit will be addressing the electoral issue as one of its main agendas.