Somalia, donors meet in Mogadishu amid heightened political tension and missed poll deadlines

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia’s national leaders are meeting today with representatives of the international community with elections topping the agenda amid missed deadlines and heightened political disputes between the federal government and opposition groups.

The Somalia Partnership Forum which is a series of meetings aimed at assessing the implementation of key state-building and recovery milestones kicked off this morning in Mogadishu and ends by close of day.

According to the programme of activities, the participants will discuss three agenda items. They are; Peaceful, Credible and Inclusive Elections and the Constitutional Review, Security Transition Plan and Socio-Economic Recovery from COVID-19 and Climate-Related Shocks.

It seems however the issue of ‘timely elections’ has been overtaken by events since key milestones have since been missed. According to the agreement in September by the FGS and FMS leaders, the election of Senators was to conclude by December 10 to pave way for the rigorous and lengthy process of electing MPs. The 275-member chamber is elected by close to 30,000 clan delegates who are yet to be chosen.

Opposition groups have also threatened to form a parallel elections committee at the federal level having dismissed the Farmaajo appointed team as ‘compromised’.

Federal and state leaders will make presentations in addition to that of representatives of the donor community which include heads of UN, AMISOM and World Bank in the country.

President Mohamed Farmaajo is not, according to the programme attending the event but Prime Minister Mohamed Roble is present.