Sharmarke meets PM Roble amid vote rigging claims in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, former Somalia's Prime Minister, held a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble amid vote-rigging claims in the country, which is struggling with instability.

The meeting comes hours after Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble met the Union of Presidential Candidates [UPC], which vowed to boycott ongoing elections in the country which have seen a number of allies of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo get elected.

According to Abdirahman Aynte, the former Planning minister, the meeting focused on the general situation in the country and the ongoing elections. Roble was accused of failing to offer leadership as the country struggled with elections.

Sharmake arrived in Mogadishu days ago and has been meeting members of the Council of Presidential Candidates. Sources privy to the meeting said the CPC will be fronting Sharmarke alongside former Lower House speaker Mohamed Jawari to lead a new political movement akin to the National Salvation Forum.

The union of the candidates called for a stop to the process following widespread grievances including from some clans that Villa Somalia was forcing candidates on them. However, the international community has poured cold water on calls for a half to the process.

Former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and Wadajir party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur are expected to compete against Farmaajo, whose tenure expired in February 2021.

GAROWE ONLINE