UN, partners welcome Mogadishu talks, urge ‘national interest’

The international community has welcomed the ongoing electoral talks in Mogadishu and called on the leaders to put the country’s national interests on the forefront.

In a joint statement, the UN and other diplomatic missions in the country said the talks chaired by President Mohamed Farmaajo and bringing together all Federal Member State leaders were crucial in unlocking the electoral stalemate.

“The partners urge the Somali leaders to engage fully in serious dialogue aimed at reaching broad agreement on a credible and implementable electoral model,” the statement read in part.

The partners also urged the leaders to be ‘guided by the national interest and the democratic aspirations of the Somali people at this historic moment.’

The talks which kicked off Sunday are expected to lead to a new agreement by the Federal Government and FMS leaders after a section of the leaders disagreed with the Dhusamareb Model.

Puntland and Jubbaland leaders had dismissed the Dhusamareb Model as ‘personal opinions’ of those present but have now joined the rest of the leaders for another round of talks in Mogadishu.