STALEMATE: No headway as Garowe talks centre on Galmudug extension

The Federal Government and Galmudug state leaders are yet to agree on the way forward after five days of intense talks as the meeting which was supposed to delve into a wide range of issues has now been cut down to a Galmudug affair, Goobjoog News has learnt.

Sources privy to the meeting have told Goobjoog News President Mohamed Farmaajo who is leading the Federal Government in the talks and Galmudug President Ahmed Haaf are yet to agree on extension arrangements for the central Somalia state.

Though the meeting which brings together the FGS leadership and Federal Member State leaders was to address a number of issues such as resources sharing, security, elections among others, the Galmudug question has taken centre stage with indications meeting is far from over.

It is now inevitable that the current Galmudug administration’s term is set for an extension. According to Galmudug state constitution, the term of the current government lapses this month after completing four years. Haaf was elected into office May 2017 after former office holder Abdikarin Guled resigned February 26, 2017. The thought of an election any time soon is now practically out of the question given the political turmoil that has defined Galmudug politics in the last two years.

There have been unconfirmed reports that the Garowe meeting has been weighing between a one or three years extension. Haaf and his chief minister Sheikh Shakir earlier said the current administration’s term would end in 2021 on the understanding the union agreement late 2017 meant a new full term would start then.

Galmudug administration and Shakir led Alhusuna Wal Jamaa formed a coalition government early 2018 after the December 30 union deal.

Sources have also indicated the FGS and FMS leaders are rooting for cooperation mechanism styled in the fashion of the National Leadership Forum which became instrumental for former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in rallying together FMS leaders.