Somalia talks break down hours after president’s historic Kismayo visit

KISMAYO, Somalia - Hours after the president's maiden trip to Kismayo, the talks engineered by the two levels of government have reportedly collapsed, despite initial optimism surrounding the historic meeting.

According to multiple sources, the talks, which were initiated on Sunday, are reportedly going on but "appear to be troubled". A round of preliminary talks last evening ended without progress.

Kenyan Intelligence Chief Noordin Haji and Former Director General of Somalia's National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA), Sanbaloolshe, are facilitating the talks and helping the parties to settle.

Another round started early this morning. However, according to Rashid Abdi, a security analyst, key sticking points were identified; however, two contentious issues seem to have triggered the deadlock.

Reports suggest that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is unwilling to recognise Madobe as legitimately elected. The Somali president wants Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe to return to the National Consultative Council (NCC) without precondition.

Madobe, who maintains that the country should not migrate to direct elections, fell out with Hassan Sheikh, who initiated constitutional amendments that paved the way for universal suffrage elections.

It is not just Jubaland; Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is at loggerheads with Puntland and Somaliland states over the model of elections and recognition, respectively, and has since created a new state called the Northeastern Region of Somalia in the contested Sool and Sanaag regions.

Over the weekend, Puntland and Somaliland met in Nairobi, Kenya, and signed a landmark accord that sets the stage for closer cooperation.

Hassan Sheikh fancies himself a strategist, but in the case of Sool and Sanaag, Puntland and Somaliland, he seems to have sawed off the shaky branch on which Mogadishu sits, Rashid Abdi argues.

The government had deployed troops to Jubaland, leading to a confrontation that left dozens of people dead. The conflict triggered Kenya's decision to mediate, but the standoff could further derail peace and potentially lead to a skyrocketing of Al-Shabaab militants within Lower and Middle Jubba.

GAROWE ONLINE