UN, AU and EU ‘regret’ Somalia’s rejection of envoy

GOOBJOOG NEWS: A quartet of the African Union, UN, EU and the regional bloc IGAD has regretted the Somali government’s rejection of the AU appointed envoy John Mahama noting the continental body had played a critical role in stabilizing the Horn of African nation.

The four said in a joint statement following a virtual meeting that the decision by the Federal Government was ‘deeply regrettable.’

Mahama, the former Ghanaian president informed the African Union Thursday of his withdrawal from the assignment.” While thanking the AU for the confidence reposed in him, Mr Mahama noted that, “the high political importance of the proposed assignment requires that the High Representative enjoy the unalloyed support and co-operation of all political stakeholders,” a statement from his website read in part.

The former leader, the statement added, ‘further cautioned in his letter to the AU Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, that the lack of support by the Federal Government could jeopardize the whole process and undermine the hopes that the entire world has in bringing  peace to the esteemed land of Somalia.’

The Federal Government wrote to the AU Commission chair mid this month notifying him that it will not work with Mahama owing to ‘links to Kenyan leadership.’ The Farmaajo administration has had long-running differences with Kenya accusing it of interference in its internal affairs.

However, the four intergovernmental organisations have expressed confidence in Prime Minister Mohamed Roble as he leads talks with Federal Member State leaders in a meeting scheduled to kick off tomorrow.

They called upon ‘the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia and all the Federal Member States to participate in the summit in good faith and without preconditions.

Talks are expected to kick off on Saturday.