Tuesday March 23, 2021
Mogadishu (HOL) - Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe has said that he hopes President Deni and President Madobe of Puntland and Jubaland will attend the electoral talks organized on Monday evening by the Federal Government after failing to attend the first day of negotiations.
Dubbe made the comments after the first phase of the consultative meeting between the federal government and the regional leaders of Hirshabelle, South West, Galmudug and Banadir at Aden Abdulle International Airport complex in Mogadishu.
The information minister said that the first leg of the meeting was an "ice-breaking session" and set the talks' agenda.
"The conference will continue; this is just the opening of the talks. We are hoping and praying that the (regional) Presidents who were absent today will be able to join us tomorrow."
Dubbe did not offer any reasons as to why Puntland and Jubaland snubbed the summit.
Sources tell HOL that the international community is working behind the scenes to persuade Deni and Madobe to join the conference. The international community played a significant role in facilitating the electoral conference by tightening the screws on Somalia's leaders in recent days.