Hiiraan Online
Monday September 17, 2018
Mogadishu (HOL) - A National Security Council meeting proposed by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo last week has either been delayed or cancelled after it was boycotted by Somalia's regional leaders.
Earlier this month, the leaders of five regional states in Somalia — Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas (Puntland), Ahmed Duale Gelle (Galmudug), Mohamed Abdi Ware (Hirshabelle), Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden (South West State) and Sheikh Ahmed Madobe of Jubbaland — formed the Council for Inter-Governmental Cooperation (CIC) and suspended cooperation with the federal government over grievances about security, national resource sharing and interference by the federal government in local and regional affairs.
“The Council expresses its concerns the deepening political crisis and growing differences among the major stakeholders of Somalia. The interference in the internal affairs of the federal member states clearly undermine the constitutionally mandated separations of powers,” the leaders said in a joint statement.
The conference which was scheduled to begin on Monday morning failed to commence after leaders from Somalia's Federal Member States demanded a “third-party mediator and guarantor” to settle their dispute with the federal government.
The regional leaders also said they want a secure venue for possible talks with the federal government and suggested that the meeting take place outside of Mogadishu.
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire shot down those demands on Sunday saying a foreign mediator will not be tolerated by the federal government.
“I am very pleased to inform the regional state leaders that the Federal Government of Somalia now has the capacity and authority to independently resolve disagreements in this country and that we do not need to call in the international community to mediate in our problems,” said the Prime Minister.
He added that the nation's capital is secure enough to host meetings with regional officials.
"We welcome every effort we make to endeavour for the Somali people who are in need of governance, but we will not agree to say that the city of Mogadishu is unsafe to meet, I do not know what they are asking for," said the Khaire.
There are initiatives being spearheaded by the Senate House to mediate between the leaders of the federal government and the Federal Member States.