U.N. Urges Dialogue after Regional Teams Skip Mogadishu Meeting

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The United Nations has expressed concern after advance teams from Somalia’s Puntland and Jubbaland regional administrations failed to attend a planned national dialogue meeting in Mogadishu, citing unresolved technical clearances.

In a statement, the U.N. Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) urged all parties to priorities the talks, which had previously been agreed, warning that delays could hinder progress on elections and other key national issues as constitutional terms near their end.

UNTMIS called for preparatory work by technical teams to be completed swiftly and urged Somalia’s federal government and the leadership of the Somali Future Council to step up efforts to create conditions conducive to holding the meeting and reaching agreement on outstanding disputes.

The U.N. mission said inclusive dialogue remained essential to maintaining political stability and safeguarding Somalia’s democratic process.