Jubaland, Puntland leaders meet with Int'l partners ahead of crucial talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's two most outspoken federal states leaders arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday ahead of crucial talks that could resolve a pre-election impasse, almost a fortnight after a controversial agreement was reached in Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug state.

During the Dhusamareb III conference, leaders from Southwest, Galmadug, HirShabelle, Mogadishu Mayor Omar Filish and President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo settled on a pre-election dispute but their talks were plunged into yet another challenge due to the absence of Puntland and Jubaland.

President Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland and his Puntland counterpart Said Abdullahi Deni had boycotted the conference, arguing that an independent arbiter could have been picked as a guarantor to ensure smooth implementation of the deal, which was to be signed after the talks.

But on Tuesday, the two leaders travelled to Mogadishu, the first trip in as many months where they are expected to meet Farmajo, the federal government leader. The define agenda for the talks is yet to be released but it's likely to feature the current electoral impasse which has caused rifts among stakeholders.

After their arrival, several roads were closed within Mogadishu but sources told Garowe Online that the two leaders, who had held a meeting in Garowe before their trip, did not request to have the roads closed contrary to claims from a section of government officials on social media.

The two leaders have been at loggerheads with the federal government for years now with their differences escalating when they failed to agree on the right model that should be used for elections. During the Dhusamareb II conference, they had held a closed-door meeting with Farmajo, who is seeking re-election.

At Mogadishu, Ahmed Madobe, who is also serving his second term as regional Jubaland leader and Deni held a closed-door meeting with the US ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto. A section of officials from Jubaland was present in the meeting.

The US ambassador, according to credible sources, commented on a statement the US embassy has posted on its Twitter handle on August 20 during the Dhusamareb 3 conference which it termed "spoilers" those who absent from the meeting.

The sources within the talks, who spoke to Garowe Online on condition of anonymity said Yamamoto made it clear that the statement was not specifically meant to Puntland and Jubaland leaders but intended to expedite decision-making on a consensus electoral system.

Meanwhile, the President of Jubaland addressed the international community diplomats on his administration's concerns over the current tension in the Gedo region which he blamed on the Federal Government.

Ahmed Madobe underlined that holding elections in the country is more important than preventing the collapse of the Jubaland state, which President Farmajo's government has been trying to change its leadership.

Afterwards, both leaders have held joint talks with the UK, Sweden, Italy, and EU ambassadors to Somalia in the heavily protected Halane base in Mogadishu Tuesday as international partners try to defuse the election stalemate.

No outcome was communicated but the two leaders are set to hold another meeting with Farmajo which could potentially unlock the stalemate. The meeting with Farmajo is yet to be communicated but the president had invited them for "crucial" talks.

On Tuesday evening, sources said President Farmajo has hosted the leaders of Jubaland and Puntland for a dinner at the presidential palace, Villa Somalia in the capital and no details have been given for the preliminary meeting.

After missing out in Dhusamareb, the US openly condemned the two regional leaders, accusing them of derailing peace efforts in the war-torn nation. The two leaders would fire back, insisting that their concerns had not been handled by those in charge of the conference.

"The US embassy in has worked for the inclusion of all views at the table in Dhusamareb3, but can’t help those absent. Spoilers withholding participation sacrifice democracy for own ambitions. Parties will need to move forward with timely model agreed," read the statement.

Those in attendance had agreed to hold a Constituency Caucus election that would bring together at least 301 electors from every constituency. This is an improved clan-based model and has since been backed by the strong opposition under the leadership of former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

GAROWE ONLINE