Somalia election dispute deepens as Puntland and Jubaland leave Mogadishu talks

MOGADISHU – Somalia’s political tensions over the electoral process have deepened after delegations from the Puntland and Jubaland states withdrew from ongoing talks in Mogadishu, citing dissatisfaction with the direction of the negotiations.

The representatives left the capital on Tuesday after concluding that the discussions had made limited progress and that key disagreements remained unresolved, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The Puntland and Jubaland delegations reportedly argued that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government was unwilling to make concessions on issues related to the country’s federal electoral system, a position they said contributed to the stalemate.

The talks in Mogadishu were aimed at resolving political disputes between the federal government and opposition-aligned Federal States over elections and broader governance issues.

The withdrawal of the two regional delegations raises further uncertainty over efforts to reach a political agreement ahead of Somalia’s planned electoral timeline.

The federal government has not yet issued an official response to the reported departure of the Puntland and Jubaland representatives or the claims that the negotiations have stalled.

Somalia has been facing prolonged political disagreements over electoral reforms, with disputes centred on the structure of elections, the balance of power between the federal government and member states, and the implementation of the country’s political transition plans.

GAROWE ONLINE