Somalia: Opposition candidates reject Qoorqoor's dinner invitation

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A host of Somalia's opposition presidential candidates rejected a dinner invitation hosted by a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, further showcasing rifts in the country, which has struggled with instability for decades.

Reports gathered by the Garowe Online indicate that the Union of Presidential Candidates [UPC] skipped a dinner invitation by Ahmed Kariye alias Qoorqoor, the current regional president of Galmadug and a close associate of Farmaajo.

Qoorqoor arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday in a bid to calm the developing political gridlock between Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. The two have fallen out for the second time in less than six months.

Somalia's political pundits often assert that Farmaajo uses Galmudug President Qoorqoor to calm tension and stifle political pressure. Galmudug leader is yet to answer to PM Mohamed Roble's call for electoral talks with FMS leaders aimed at solving the current quagmire.

Roble, who is fully in charge of the implementation of the elections agreement had called all FMS leaders for a meeting but unfortunately, Farmaajo ignited another debate by claiming that he had suspended Roble, a move which has since been dismissed.

The PM, who enjoys support from members of the opposition and some member states, vowed to continue executing his responsibilities. On Tuesday, the United States also insisted that it recognize him as the de facto PM of Somalia.

Earlier on Tuesday, opposition presidential candidates in Somalia accused Farmaajo of committing “treason” over the “suspension” of Roble which they termed as an “attempted coup”. Opposition candidates called on Farmaajo to vacate the Presidential palace “as soon as possible”.

Somalia is set to hold presidential elections once the Lower House polls are over in which a new president will be elected. Farmaajo has been blamed for stalling the electoral exercise by undermining Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

GAROWE ONLINE