Somalia: Farmajo holds preliminary meeting with two FMS leaders

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo held preliminary talks in Mogadishu on Saturday with Puntland and Jubaland leaders Said Deni and Ahmed Madobe.

The meeting is taking place at Villa Somalia ahead of a formal meeting in which the two sides are expected to announce a way forward on the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

Sources at the presidential palace told Garowe Online that the meeting was meant to lay the framework for the discussion in the week, including setting the agenda and protocol.

The leaders last month have boycotted the Dhusamareb summit outcome that saw the signing of an election deal between Farmajo and leaders of HirShabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest plus Mogadishu mayor.

Relations between Mogadishu and the FMS have remained sour for the better part of President Farmaajo’s presidency paralyzing critical engagements in security and election.

The ongoing meeting is expected to draw the way forward for the forthcoming elections which the electoral commission NIEC chairwoman Halima Yarey told parliament in June will not happen on the one-person-one-vote basis this year.

GAROWE ONLINE