Puntland and Galmudug agree to help mediate Somalia's election rift

GALKAYO, Somalia – The president of Puntland and Galmudug Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Abdi Kariye alias “Qoor-Qoor” have held a key meeting in the divided town of Galkayo on Thursday morning.

In a joint communique issued at the conclusion of the talks, the two neighboring Federal States’ leaders announced they have agreed to work together on mediation in the ongoing election dispute in Somalia.

In a surprise move, the two leaders offered to "mediate or arbitrate" the raging stalemate between the opposition candidates, Jubaland on one side, and the Somali Federal Government over the electoral process.

In addition, the two sides also agreed to collaborate on security and the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS after a series of deadly bombings in Galkayo, a city that straddles the border between the two states.

During Somalia Partnership Forum held in Mogadishu this month, the international partners voiced a similar call to resolve the differences through dialogue and adhere to the Sep 17 election agreement.

The country is facing deadlock over the upcoming elections and looming US troop withdrawal which many analysts have warned would risk Somalia’s fragile security due to lack of a strong national army.

At the end of the current Farmajo-led government’s mandate this year, Somalia finds itself once again at a crossroad due to the ever-recurring political disagreements over electoral processes.

An alliance of 14 presidential hopefuls has expressed their disapproval of the electoral commissions appointed by Somali PM Mohamed Hussein, which they say included spy agents and civil servants.

Somaliland and Gedo are among the contentious issues as the opposition is calling for the withdrawal of government forces in Jubaland and allow Senate speaker Abdi Hashi to appoint a poll body for the election of the northern MPs.

The council of the presidential candidates demands the urgent removal or resignation of the National Intelligence and Security Agency Director, Fahad Yasin for becoming a campaign manager of Farmajo, the incumbent who is seeking re-election.

The opposition candidates rejected as unconstitutional a new election schedule released by a disputed election commission on Wednesday, announcing the vote for the Senate members will take place between Dec 31 and Jan 6. 

GAROWE ONLINE