Somalia: Senate speaker lands in Kismayo for talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A high-level delegation from Somalia's Senate arrived in the southern port city of Kismayo, the interim regional capital of Jubbaland State on Thursday as part of mediation efforts, Garowe Online reports.

The delegate led by the speaker of the Upper House, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi received a warm welcome from Jubbaland President, Ahmed Madobe and other state officials upon arrival at Kismayo's airport.

Abdullahi and his entourage comprising of Senators are holding talks aimed at ending the current political crisis in the country with Madobe, a fierce critic of Farmajo's administration at State presidential Palace.

The trip is part of the Senate mediation efforts seeking a homegrown solution to the worst-ever standoff between the Federal Government and regional states that has been deepening since early this year.

Last September, the Leaders of Puntland, Glmudug, HirShabelle, Southwest, and Jubbaland cut off ties with the central government due to lack of political and security progress in the Horn of Africa nation.

The Senate's conflict resolution committee presented last Month an eight- point report with complaints drawn from the Federal States that are the backbone to the rift bedeviling the Horn of Africa nation.

On October 22, Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire had unveiled a four-member ministerial committee to jointly cooperate with the Senate to end the stalemate.

The ongoing combined efforts come as some of the regional states, in particular, Southwest and Puntland are heading to the polls December 19 and January 8 respectively to vote for new leaders.

GAROWE ONLINE