Somalia: Jubaland President storms out of NCC meeting in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A stalemate has rocked the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu after Jubaland leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe refused to rubber stamp term extensions, calling for accountability and integrity from leaders.

On the final day of the NCC, Madobe was sighted at Aden Adde International Airport, headed to Kismayo having rejected a controversial term extension by Villa Somalia. Talks between federal and state leaders have collapsed, sources told Garowe Online.

The Last-minute efforts to stop Madobe's departure failed, with PM Hamza Abdi Barre reportedly sending an envoy last night, warning he would resign if the plan wasn’t accepted. Madobe is said to have stood firm and refused to endorse the constitutional changes.

Former Somali leaders Sheikh Sharif, Hassan Ali Khaire, and Abdirahman Abdishakur strongly condemned the collapse of talks between federal and state leaders in Mogadishu. They accuse President Hassan Sheikh of pushing for an illegal term extension, vowing to block any such attempts through legal means.

The leaders also stated they would never accept a term extension that was previously rejected by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. They argue Hassan Sheikh is misleading the public with promises of “one person, one vote,” while secretly pushing for an extension of power.

The president has struggled to keep the relationship between the federal government and member states, with the regional leaders accusing him of undermining federalism. Hassan Sheikh is keen to introduce a one-man-one vote model but several state leaders have refused.

The model, they argue, would derail upcoming elections and subsequently, trigger a term extension. During his time in opposition, Hassan Sheikh frequently complained about plots for term extensions by former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed alias Farmajo.

But under his tenure, they say, Hassan Sheikh is determined to undermine constitutionalism. Madobe is a key member of the National Consultative Council and his exit simply means the talks have failed and the country could be in turmoil.

GAROWE ONLINE