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Farmaajo’s absence eases poll talks, thorny issues resolved

Storyline:National News

GOOBJOOG NEWS/MOGADISHU: The absence of outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo has easened the ongoing electoral talks with most of the contentious issues being settled, Goobjoog News has learnt.
Sources privy to the talks told Goobjoog News both sides have climbed down from their previous high grounds thanks to the conspicuous absence of Farmaajo.
Prime Minister Mohamed Farmaajo has worn the confidence of all the Federal Member State (FMS) leaders, the sources said.
Notable in the list of the contentious issues were the Gedo question and the composition of the Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET). According to impeccable sources, Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe has softened his stance over the issue ‘owing to the absence of Farmaajo.’
The two leaders had bitterly fallen out over Gedo following the retention of federal forces in the region. Gerbaharey, which is Farmaajo’s backyard was selected as one of the two polling centres during the Mogadishu Talks in September 17, 2020. The other is Kismayo.
Similarly, the issue of the composition of the FIET has largely been resolved after PM Roble committed to constitute a new independent team. Farmaajo had been accused of packing the previous team with cronies and intelligence officials.
However, the Somaliland question still remains unresolved, sources added. Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi and Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guled have been embroiled in supremacy battles and right to appoint the team which shall be responsible for the election of MPs and Senators representating the breakaway region in the Federal Parliament.
The talks are expected to run through the end of the week. The seven leaders are also expected to draw a road map for elections including timeliness, security and other logistical  considerations.