New round of initial poll talks resume in Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Preliminary talks between outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo and regional government leaders resume today after they ended last week with no word.

Galmudug President Ahmed Qoorqoor who had returned home returned last evening in Mogadishu. His office said the central Somalia region leader had to renew his mandated stay period outside the state in line with the constitution.

Villa Somalia communications director Abdirashid Abdi said the talks bringing together Farmaajo and all the FMS leaders will be converging today for the second round of initial talks.

“This is to authoritatively confirm the resumption of the Preliminary sessions today. H.E Mohamed Farmaajo, PM, BRA Governor and all the FMS Leadership are presently at the venue, Mogadishu,” Hashi said in a tweet.

The meeting is still focused on settling the groundwork for the main talks aimed at resolving the long-running electoral stalemate. The Farmaajo camp and the opposition allied Jubbaland-Puntland have differed over the agenda of the meeting forcing the talks to drag for a long time.

Whereas the Farmaajo faction wants the outright endorsement of Baidoa Framework and the implementation of the September 17, 2020 deal, the opposition wants inclusion of more stakeholders, debate on the legitimacy of federal institutions whose term has ended and settlement of Somaliland and Gedo questions.