UPDATE: Poll talks to open Saturday as state leaders head to Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Electoral talks between the Federal Government and Federal Member State presidents will commence on Saturday, Goobjoog News has learnt as regional leaders head into the city.

The meeting was expected to kick off today following the request by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble early this month. However, some of the FMS leaders are yet to make their way into Mogadishu.

Galmudug President Ahmed Qoorqoor and his South West counterpart Abdiaziz Laftagareen have already arrived. Puntland’s Abdullahi Deni and his ally Ahmed Madobe of Jubbaland are expected to land this afternoon.

HirShabelle President Ali Guudlawe will travel to Mogadishu on Saturday, sources have told Goobjoog News. The delay is occasioned by the fighting in Jowhar in the last two days which resulted in the deaths of six people among them two senior staff attached to the office of the state president.

The talks are expected to unlock the long-running electoral stalemate.