US, AU alarmed about Deni, Madobe snub, call on full participation
Somalia’s international partners have raised concerns about the absence of two Federal Member State Leaders from national electoral talks in Mogadishu.
In a message delivered via Twitter on Tuesday, The U.S. embassy called on Farmajo to bring all stakeholders to the negotiating table.
“We urge @M_Farmaajo to ensure full participation in the summit and conclude an elections deal. We urge @SaidAbdullahiDe, (Said Abdullahi Deni/Puntland) @PresidentMadobe, (Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed Madobe/Jubaland) @MrQoorqoor, (Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor/Galmudug) @AliGuudlaawe (Ali Guudlaawe/Hirshabelle) @Laftagareen (Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed/Southwest) to participate without preconditions.”
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, released a statement on Tuesday saying that the AU is closely monitoring the political developments in Somalia as leaders gather to forge a path to elections.
Mahamat said he was concerned that President Said Abdullahi Deni and President Ahmed Madobe of Puntland and Jubaland snubbed the talks.
“While the Chairperson is encouraged by the arrival in Mogadishu of leaders from all the Federal Member States, as well as other stakeholders, he is gravely concerned at reports that the meeting could take place without the participation of all the FMS Presidents.”
President Farmajo and Prime Minister Roble are meeting with the leaders of Hirshabelle, South West, Galmudug and Banadir at Aden Abdulle International Airport complex in Mogadishu for the second day to discuss how to implement the September 17 agreement and the recommendations put forth by the Baidoa Technical Committee.
