Somalia: Farmajo arrives in Dhusamareb for talks on polls model

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The president of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has on Saturday touched down in the central town of Dhusamareb for the second round of talks on the upcoming elections with the Federal States leaders, Garowe Online reports.

The much-awaited meeting was scheduled to kick start on Augusta 15, but, has been delayed as all the FMS leaders are yet to arrive in Galmudug capital. The latest reports indicated that HirShabelle and Southwest state heads landed in the city.

The delegation of the president was given a warm welcome at the airport and escorted to the Galmudug presidential palace, where he met with the leaders of HirShabelle, Southwest, and the host Ahmed Abdi Kariye alias Qoor-Qoor. 

Prior to his travel, Farmajo has delivered a speech to the Lower House Chamber of the parliament, briefing the lawmakers on the result of the last month's summit between his government and the Federal States over the modalities of the next General elections.

Following their conference, the leaders have failed to resolve the dispute over the election model, however, they have set up a joint technical committee tasked with providing guidance and recommendations on the process and model of the election.

The international partners of Somalia and the country's stakeholders have warned of a possible political crisis if elections are delayed or current leaders make an unlawful extension to stay in power beyond their 4-year mandate, expiring in 5 months.

In a joint statement issued on Friday evening, the partners said that failure by any leader to participate in the Dhusamareeb III meeting would erode the still fragile trust, undermine the consensus-building process and impair the ability of the meeting to arrive at implementable decisions.

The long-chaotic Horn of Africa nation was due to hold parliamentary elections in October 2020 while presidential polls will take place in February 2021. It seems the polls will not be held on time and delay is inevitable. 

Last June, while addressing to the Lower House of Parliament, the national electoral commission chairwoman Halima Yarey announced that her office can't conduct one person, one vote elections in the scheduled deadline and has instead called for up to 13 months to hold universal suffrage.

Uncertainty still surrounds Somalia's elections.

GAROWE ONLINE