Somali opposition alliance urge international pressure on Farmaajo

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The newly created opposition alliance dubbed the National Salvation Forum has appealed to the international community to directly intervene in the ongoing political crisis in the country adding to a series of appeals by the opposition in recent weeks.

The NSF which brings together 15 presidential candidates, the allied faction of Jubbaland and Puntland and the Somaliland pro-union group appealed to the UN, U.S, EU and African Union among other world bodies to make use of its influence to pressure outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo to exit office.

“It would be very difficult to engage a peaceful dialogue unless Farmajo is caught accountable to his outrageous actions of aborting elections to happen,” the NMSF said.

“The security command can no longer under his Commander in Chief as he ostensibly uses for personal gains, henceforth, NSF calls for an immediate transition of security command from him prior to holding the summit.”

The opposition alliance added that the deployment of more troops in the Gedo region and withdrawal of customs police from the port with the replacement of the Haram’ad forces was ‘clear evidence that Mohamed Farmajo is irresponsibly taking advantage of his incumbency in spite he lacks the legitimacy to do so.”

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded Friday that Somalia holds elections ‘immediately’ noting the continuing stalemate risk further instability.

“We call on Somalia’s federal and member state leaders to set aside narrow political objectives, uphold their responsibilities to the people of Somalia, and agree to immediately hold transparent and inclusive elections,” Blinken said.

Villa Somalia announced a new round for tomorrow but all indications are clear that the opposition will not be taking part.