Somalia plunged into uncertainty as poll talks collapse

By T. Roble

GOOBJOOG NEWS|DHUSAMAREB: Somalia is waking up this morning to an aura of uncertainty after eight men sitting in Dhusamareb for the last three days failed to unlock the ongoing electoral gridlock amid high expectations locally and internationally.

President Mohamed Farmaajo returned to Mogadishu Friday night empty-handed after a meeting he chaired which brought together the leaders of the five Federal Member States and Banaadir Regional Administration stood ground on its demands.

The failed talks are a disappointment to the country which was banking on the eight leaders to resolve their disputes and let elections take place.

The international community had reportedly warned Friday morning against any attempts by the leaders to quit the meeting without a consensus. Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe cancelled a presser mid-morning Friday after a ‘call’ from Halane (International Community headquarters). Sources privy to the talks had indicated Madobe was to announce the failure of the talks.

LAPSED TERMS

Farmaajo’s stay in office lapses on Monday according to the constitution while that of Parliament ended December 27. One of the key issues to deal with in the talks was the transition question as both offices will now be operating illegally according to the constitution.

But Osman Dube, the information minister known for his late-night announcements picked the microphone last night to apportion blame. Madobe is to blame for this ‘mess’, Dube said noting the government had agreed to allow AMISOM police to observe the Gedo elections but declined to withdraw federal troops.

Madobe stood ground demanding to appoint a new Gedo governor and have his administration oversee elections in the region.

SOMALILAND QUESTION

On the Somaliland issue, Dube said the Federal Government had agreed to compromise including ‘allowing Senate Speaker to appoint some of the Somaliland elections officials’ though it was ‘illegal’.

There is currently no law but a gentleman’s agreement on who appoints the temporary electoral officials. The 2016 agreement by the National Leadership Forum empowered regional presidents to elect their respective poll teams while lawmakers from Somaliland would appoint their own as well.

Hashi said in a separate statement Friday Somaliland had the right to sit in the Dhusamareb talks like any other Federal Member State noting that the appointment of election officials was only one among other issues that needed to be deliberated.

The failed talks are a disappointment to the country which was banking on the eight leaders to resolve their disputes and let elections take place. There were also expectations the talks would not face many hurdles after UN head in Somalia James Swan secured concessions from Jubbaland and Puntland both of which accepted to form their respective electoral teams.

With no agreement on sight now, it is back to another round of gerrymandering with prospects of term extension for the current administration.