UN mediated talks between Farmaajo and Deni-Madobe axis close to deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: UN head in Somalia James Swan is mediating talks between outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo and his political nemesis Ahmed Madobe and Abdullahi Deni with a deal expected soon, Goobjoog News can authoritatively reveal.

Sources privy to the talks have told Goobjoog News the two Federal Member State leaders who have been bitterly opposed to Farmaajo are expected to reach a deal with the outgoing president ‘soon’.

The two sides are expected to reach a compromise and announce the resumption of talks, the source said. The international community has been upping pressure against the three leaders whose differences have literally stalled the talks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded Saturday that Somalia ‘holds elections immediately’ echoing similar calls by the UN and other foreign missions in the country. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto added warned Sunday against leaving the negotiating table before striking a deal.

“The people of Somalia want elections now,” the embassy said in a tweet adding, all FMS leaders ‘must stay in Mogadishu until an election agreement is reached,” Yamamoto said in a tweet. “Failure is not an option.”

Farmaajo met with the leaders of South West, Galmudug, HirShabelle and BRA on Monday as Deni and Madobe kept off.

The two sides differed over the agenda of the meeting with Farmaajo insisting on endorsing the Baidoa Framework as the Deni-Madobe faction demanded the inclusion of opposition stakeholders and removal of security chiefs following an attack by soldiers on opposition protestors last month.