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Farmaajo in talks with IC amid pressure to rescind extension move

Storyline:National News

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia’s embattled outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo is currently meeting with representatives of the international community whom sources have demanded he ‘immediately returns to the talks’ to end the ongoing electoral stalemate.

The Afisyoni talks come barely a week after the Lower House unilaterally passed a resolution handing Farmaajo two more years in office. Farmaajo penned his signature on the resolution a day after.

The US, UK and EU have all signalled the deployment of sanctions, aid cuts and re-evaluation of relations with Somalia in the wake of the resolution. In today’s meetings, sources told Goobjoog News, the respective countries will be reading the riot act to Farmaajo-return to the table or face the consequences.

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Farmaajo’s administration said Wednesday it stands by the resolution and lashed out at the international community for ‘blackmail’ and attempts at ‘regime change’.

But the growing tensions in the country especially the capital Mogadishu have further jolted the international community to come hard on Farmaajo, sources said. Mogadishu, analysts have warned is on the brink of another civil war and the international community can no longer hope things will change for the better.

The policy think-tank International Crisis Group has advised that the African Union mobilises the international community for talks with the various parties in Somalia through external mediation.

“First, the AU, with the backing of key external partners, should appoint an envoy who, working in concert with the UN envoy, should meet the main parties separately and urge a return to talks,” Crisis Group said.