Somalia: President joins FMS leaders for talks on the country's elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has landed in Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug State on Saturday to attend crucial talks between his Government and the Federal States on the country's next parliamentary and presidential elections.

The PM Hassan Ali Khaire has already been in the city with the presidents of the Federal States who called on Villa Somalia last week for a national dialogue to resolve current outstanding issues agree on an alternative electoral model after the government failed to hold timely one person, one vote elections this year.

The talks are expected to kick start this week as no date has been set until now. 

The two sides have not had such a meeting for more than one year due to the political standoff over the constitution, electoral law, and other matters, including the petroleum bill that has been approved by the parliament and signed into law without the input of the Federal States.

Last week, the speaker of the Lower House Chamber of the Somali Parliament, Mohamed Mursal, has strongly rejected a resolution by states' leaders that one person, one vote elections cannot be held in the country by the end of this year and the beginning of 2021.

He added that only the Somali parliament can decide on the elections model as the houses passed contentious bills amid calls by the FMS to halt until leaders who held a virtual conference recently come together and reach a deal to move out of the current impasse.

Speaking to the Parliament on 27th June, the chairwoman of the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC], Halima Yarey announced that her office wants 13 more months to conduct a one person, one vote elections in the country, a move that could pave the way for a term extension by current leaders.

GAROWE ONLINE