UN, AU lead foreign powers in demanding end to Somalia’s poll deadlock

A group of five international organizations led by the UN and African Union has called for the resolution of the ongoing electoral stalemate in Somalia but stopped short of concrete steps at pressuring the country’s leadership to get their act done.

In a joint statement Saturday, the UN, AU, EU and regional bloc IGAD however expressed regrets at failure by Somali leaders to resolve their differences and find a way forward to the much delayed elections.

The four intergovernmental organisations ‘expressed serious concern that the political stalemate is impacting negatively on peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Somalia and beyond.”

The remarks appeared to respond to the Federal Government’s protest Friday over what it termed as interference of its internal affairs by foreign entities.

Foreign Affairs Minister Abdirizak Mohamed wrote to the UN Security Council Friday demanding an end to ‘foreign interference’ in the country’s electoral process.

“The Federal Government of Somalia regards any interference in the process of National Elections by external actors as direct interference into our internal affairs in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions, International Conventions and law,” the letter read in part.

Talks between the outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo and Federal Member States Presidents collapsed last week as the two sides traded accusations over the fate of the talks.

The serial collapse of the talks have secured Farmaajo a continued stay in office. He marked two months in office April 8 in violation of the constitution which set his last day in office to February 8, 2021.

Goobjoog News