Govt’ says open to talks as Senate ultimatum lapses today
The government has maintained the National Security Council called last month by President Mohamed Farmaajo is still on barely a day after the Senate issued a three days ultimatum to the executive for a response on way forward. That ultimatum runs out today.
In a statement to newsrooms Sunday evening, Interior Ministry said the President was still open to the meeting noting the government was committed to an amicable solution.
“The President’s call for meeting to heads of member states is still there and the Federal Government of Somalia is ready to listen and understand any existing complaints of the heads of the states,” the statement read in part.
The Senate issued a notice to the executive Saturday while expressing its frustration over the government’s failure to respond to the concerns raised by the federal states.
The complaints were collected by the Senators who visited all the federal states early this month following a move by the federal states to cease relations with the federal government early September.
Senate speaker Abdi Hashi said despite efforts by the Senate to convince federal state leaders to hold back their meeting pending response from the government, the executive had gone mute.
“We asked the regional states two times to put off their meeting which agreed and the last time it was 19th of this month, but unfortunately we do not have the answer of the government,” Hashi said.
State leaders kicked off their meeting Sunday in Garowe with scathing attacks against the federal government. Galmudug leader Ahmed Haaf suggested it was time the states formed their own army since they could no longer rely on the Somalia National Army.