Amid mistrust, Madobe, Deni deploy own guards, to stay within airport area during talks

GOOBJOOG NEWS|SOMALIA: Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe and his Puntland ally will not be stepping out of the airport area and have deployed their elite forces to guard them during the period of talks with outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo signalling the level of mistrust with the Federal Government.

A team of armed Jubbaland presidential elite forces landed in Mogadishu mid-morning ahead of Madobe’s arrival this afternoon. Deni is also expected to come with his own security forces.

Sources have told Goobjoog News the two leaders are not taking any chances and will not be relying on federal forces for security. Both leaders, sources told Goobjoog News separately will be staying within the airport area.

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The two political allies also seem to have had their conditions met after it emerged that the talks will be held at the airforce hangar located within Aden Aden Airport. The two had also demanded that the UN and AMISOM provide the venue for the talks.

Goobjoog News has also learnt that the talks set for tomorrow are strictly under the auspices of the UN and the US. Both the UN and US, a source close to the developments told Goobjoog News fixed and demanded the Federal Government and Federal Member State leaders attend.

This is contrary to previous talks which have been convened by Farmaajo. The last call by Villa Somalia in late February came a cropper after Jubbaland and Puntland set forth new demands and kept off Mogadishu.

The other FMS-Galmudug, South West, HirShabelle and Banaadir Regional Administration (BRA) are in good books with Farmaajo.

Outstanding issues also remain for fresh talks. While the Federal Government is fronting for signatures and adoption of the September 17 Agreement implementation process and the Baidoa Framework, Madobe and Deni are reportedly pushing for more discussions and co-opting of the opposition umbrella, CPC into the talks.

The Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) has demanded Farmaajo steps down and hands over power to a transitional council.