UN Secretary-General and Farmaajo discuss elections and security

GOOBJOOG NEWS/NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke via phone with Somalia’s outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Monday, April 11, 2022, according to a statement from his office.

The Secretary-General expressed solidarity with Somalia in the face of increasing attacks from Al-Shabaab and severe drought that is threatening to plunge the entire country into famine.

Gutteres also expressed support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), adding that he was hopeful that Somalia would in the soonest time possible, be able to take full charge of its security.

Antonio and Farmaajo also discussed the electoral process in Somalia, with new parliamentarians expected to be sworn in on Thursday, April 14th, in the country’s capital, Mogadishu.

“The Secretary-General hopes that the electoral process will be completed as soon as possible and that the current issues will be resolved through dialogue,” said the statement.

The UN Secretary-General’s talks with Farmaajo came at a time when the Somali opposition had voiced concern that the outgoing president was planning to disrupt elections and scuttle the transition process by using the army for his own political gain.