Somalia: FNP welcomes Dhusamareb deal, calls for inclusion

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In one of the most unprecedented political statement, Somalia's opposition party Forum for National Parties [FNP] has welcomed the recently signed Dhusamareb deal but called for the inclusion of Jubaland and Puntland, which boycotted the conference that lasts for almost a week.

FNP which is a conglomerate of six opposition parties under the leadership of former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that the agreement is a critical step towards holding timely elections in Somalia.

However, the party warned that the absence of Jubaland and Puntland could jeopardize the plans, adding that "it's important that stakeholders including the two federal states are invited to the table for the sake of unity and prosperity of our country". The absence of the two, it added, makes the agreement "incomplete" contrary to what was envisioned.

The FNP further accused parliament [Senate and Lower House] of politicizing critical constitutional and policy issues in Somalia, adding that 'it's incumbent upon them to solve their differences and forge a common goal". The two Houses have been at loggerheads over the controversial electoral law.

The statement seemed to rhyme with that of the Wadajir party under the leadership of Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who also termed the deal "a step in the right direction", adding that it was, however, "incomplete" due to the absence of Jubaland and Puntland administrations.

Wadajir party further insisted that for the deal to be implemented, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo should appoint a Prime Minister soon. Currently, the country is under a caretaker PM Mahdi Mohamed Guleid who was sacked by the Lower House in what analysts claimed was a strategy to push for term extension which he had opposed.

Jubaland and Puntland pulled out of the talks despite having been in frontline calling for a compromise electoral model that would allow timely elections. The two federal states have previously accused Farmajo of interfering with their internal politics besides also claiming that there was a plan to destabilize them.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, Puntland and Jubaland said "we reject the outcome in totality" while citing several setbacks, including but not limited to the absence of a guarantor. The agreement, they added, "cannot hold water since it did not factor input from important stakeholders in our country".

"Nobody was to represent any of us in the meeting. We had issues that the Federal Government was not ready to solve. The agreement is null and void," read the statement, adding that: "We, however, thank the international community for always standing with the people of Somalia."

But Farmajo, who led leaders from Southwest, HirShabelle, and Galmadug along with Banadir governor who also doubles as Mogadishu Mayor Omar Filish in signing the deal, regretted the absence of the leadership from the two federal states.

In a statement on Friday, he insisted that: "We are disappointed with your absence but we still believe that you'll join us and share your wisdom and contributions. We request you to be part of a historic moment which is significant for Somalia's future."

The team agreed on the new electoral model which was dubbed as Electoral Constituency Caucuses. Each caucus will be consisting of 301 delegates who will vote for a seat in parliament. An agreement needs the endorsement of the Lower House of Parliament as earlier indicated by Farmajo.

GAROWE ONLINE