Tuesday March 23, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - The U.S. has called on Somalia's leaders to meet without preconditions and hammer out an election deal as Somalia's international partners have raised concerns about the absence of two Federal Member State Leaders from national electoral talks in Mogadishu.
In one of its strongest signals to the country's leadership, the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu, led by ambassador Donald Yamamoto, demanded that President Mohamed Farmaajo and the Federal Member State leaders close in on their differences to break the long-running stalemate.
"We urge @M_Farmaajo to ensure full participation in the summit and conclude an elections deal. We urge @SaidAbdullahiDe, (Said Abdullahi Deni/Puntland) @PresidentMadobe, (Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed Madobe/Jubaland) @MrQoorqoor, (Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor/Galmudug) @AliGuudlaawe (Ali Guudlaawe/Hirshabelle) @Laftagareen (Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed/Southwest) to participate without preconditions.
It also sent a similar appeal to all the Federal Member State leaders to 'participate without preconditions."
Both Ahmed Madobe (Jubbaland) and his Puntland counterpart Abdullahi Deni skipped the meeting convened by Farmaajo Monday.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, released a statement on Tuesday saying that the A.U. is closely monitoring Somalia's political developments as leaders gather to forge a path to elections.
Mahamat said he was concerned that President Said Abdullahi Deni and President Ahmed Madobe of Puntland and Jubaland snubbed the talks.
"While the Chairperson is encouraged by the arrival in Mogadishu of leaders from all the Federal Member States, as well as other stakeholders, he is gravely concerned at reports that the meeting could take place without the participation of all the FMS Presidents."
President Farmajo and Prime Minister Roble are meeting with the leaders of Hirshabelle, South West, Galmudug and Banadir at Aden Abdulle International Airport complex in Mogadishu for the second day to discuss how to implement the September 17 agreement and the recommendations put forth by the Baidoa Technical Committee.