UN warns of instability as opposition steps up pressure on Farmaajo

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NEW YORK: UN head in Somalia James Swan has warned of a threat to the country’s stability should the tussle over elections persist as the opposition and a section of Federal Member States dig in for another round of battles with the outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo.

Hours before Swan addressed the UN Security Council, the opposition group CPC called for fresh protests on Friday as Jubbaland and Puntland said they will be keeping off further talks with Farmaajo. Villa Somalia said Monday afternoon it had sent out invitations to the leaders of the allied states to attend another round of talks.

“Growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s state-building progress and even security unless they are resolved through dialogue and compromise in the interest of the country,” Swan told the 15 member Council.

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He spoke of ‘increased brinkmanship, pressure tactics, and tests of strength’ among Somalia’s political leaders but called for opening up of channels of communication to resolve the stalemate that has persisted for over six months now.

But even as Swan sounded upbeat on the resumption of talks between Farmaajo and the Federal Member States, the key contenders-Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) on the one side and Jubbaland and Puntland on the other have stood ground against negotiations with Farmaajo.

Abdullahi Deni of Puntland spoke at length Sunday night terming Farmaajo a ‘dishonest politician’ only interested in protecting and furthering the interests of his sub-clan. Farmaajo was only interested in Gerbeharey (his home turf), said Deni.

Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe who together with Deni has mounted the most resistance against Farmaajo too set out new demands for the talks including that Farmaajo apologises for the live bullets by government soldiers against the opposition on Friday and that he no longer participates in the talks as president.

The CPC on the other hand has called for fresh protests on Friday. Wadajir party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur said Monday the government had already deployed troops at Daljirka Dahsoon which is the venue of the protests.