US intervenes in deadlock over talks between FGS and FMS

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Villa Somalia should urgently convene a meeting with federal states in a bid to solve the current political impasse, the US has said, in a statement that could ease tensions between the two parties, which have been reading from different scripts over the impending general elections.

Last week, preliminary talks between federal government and member states collapsed abruptly, with reports indicating that representatives from Southwest state had objected proposed date which had been unanimously backed by four other states.

Jubaland, Puntland and HirShabelle, sources told Garowe Online, had agreed to have the FGS and FMS talks on July 1st in Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, but Southwest rejected the idea, arguing that "we can only have constructive talks from 20th July".

But on Tuesday, the US embassy in Mogadishu emphasized on need to have an urgent meeting for both parties, terming it "constitutional". The statement comes barely a fortnight after UN envoy to Somalia James Swan and his AU counterpart Francisco Madeira told the United Nations Security Council that Somalia is determined to hold polls.

"US2SOMALIA calls on the The VillaSomalia to convene a meeting with all FMS leaders, as required by the Somali Constitution," read the tweet from the US embassy, which is the major financier of FGS, which was first created in 2012.

"FGS–FMS engagement and cooperation is urgently needed to resolve political divisions, implementation of debt relief, COVID response," added the statement, which comes amid increasing calls for constructive dialogue between the two parties.

Despite the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic and urgency in implementation of debt relief, Somalia is facing uncertainty of holding elections, due to serious unsolved underlying issues, which have triggered divisions between FGS and FMS.

Among others, both parties have differed on the favorable electoral model for the polls, despite increasing calls to have universal suffrage system as the most ideal model. Delimitation of boundaries, women quota and representation for both Banadir and Somaliland are some of the issues yet to be agreed on.

The bicameral parliament, which reconvened on Saturday, is set to receive a report from parliamentary ad-hoc committee, which is set to crack the puzzle on some of the contentious issues between FGS and the opposition.

While opening the 7th session of parliament in Villa Hargeisa on Saturday, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo insisted that Somalia will hold one-person-one-vote elections, adding that "that's the only way our people's voice will be heard". The same model had been endorsed by international partners among them, the US.

But it's the issue of limited time and sluggish preparations which have attracted criticism from the opposition, further irking political temperatures in Mogadishu. On Monday, the Wadajir party accused Farmajo of "plot" to extend his term, arguing that he's supporting scrapping of clan-based model without pushing for voter registration.

"He insulted the intellect of the nation by insisting on possibility of delivering one-person-one-vote model and ignored to organise dialogue," read the statement in part, in reference to calls to have a national conversation, which has now been backed by the US.

"He made it clear that he doesn't want elections and is ready to extend his term he has chosen the future of darkness, conflict and distrust which will erode our gains. The party calls for urgent meeting to rescue the country."

Somalia has been using the clan-based model to choose representatives, which is popularly known as 4.5 model. The opposition wants the system maintained at least for the upcoming elections, whose calendar will be announced by NIEC on June 27, arguing that the remaining period cannot sustain a free and credible universal suffrage election.

There were a flurry of political activities on Tuesday in Mogadishu, all related to the political stalemate which has been witnessed in the last couple of months. Former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Lower House Speaker Mohamed Mursal at FNP offices but details of their engagement are yet to be made public.

And in a statement, Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi called for "broad dialogue" between FGS and FMS before June 25th, adding that the current impasse needs urgent solution for the sake of stability. He asked both parties to agree on appropriate electoral model

Abdi, who is one of key decision makers in the current bicameral house, insisted that the meeting ought to be "urgent", adding that he will appoint a committee led by him in a bid to bring the two parties together. His statement came just hours before the tweet from the US embassy.

While terming the US approach "wise", Abdirashid Hashi, the director for Heritage Institute of Policy Studies, said that dialogue between FGS and federal states is inevitable, adding that failure to honour it, Somalia will plunge to a state of anarchy.

"We have also explaining why discussion and consensus among stakeholders is good for Somalia and the political actors as well — for the alternative is instability which is bad for everyone," he said in a tweet.

"Unless key stakeholders; FGS leaders, Federal Member States and political parties discuss and agree on a fair election process, election won’t happen in Somalia," he said, adding: "Trying to engineer a term extension for the incumbent government will lead to conflict."

A fortnight ago, the institute had ruled ruled out both universal suffrage and clan-based model, terming them either time barred or archaic. Instead, Hashi's team called for expanded model as an immediate alternative, which will accommodate close to 221,000 electors on a temporary basis.

GAROWE ONLINE