Somalia: Farmajo's allies meet key opposition leaders in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia -  Amid the ongoing pre-election stalemate in Somalia, two close allies of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Saturday held a closed-door meeting with key opposition leaders, as they strive to find a lasting solution to the current political stalemate.

Ahmed Qoorqoor, the President of Galmudug, and his HirShabelle counterpart Ali Gudlawe met with some of the 15 member Council of Presidential Candidates [CPC] in Mogadishu to make known their position over the term extension of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

The meeting follows a similar one Saturday which failed to owe to differences between the two sides. The opposition has been calling for the removal of Farmajo, arguing that his term had expired.

Sources close to the talks noted that the CPC group was disappointed after both Qoorqoor and Gudlawe informed them they had earlier met Farmajo and that he [Farmajo] was waiting for them for a meeting.

It was however agreed, a source told GO that the two leaders return today to declare their position. The CPC is banking on the two regional leaders to switch sides leaving South West State President Abdiaziz Lafta Gareen as the only regional state president on Farmajo’s side.

Sources indicate that Farmajo is fronting for a meeting with CPC on Monday to dissuade the opposition leaders from a planned meeting by Hawiye clan leaders.

Key CPC leaders among them former Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former PM Hassan Khaire, and Wadajir Party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur all hail from the Hawiye clan.

Sources privy to the talks told Garowe Online that Qoor-Qoor and Gudlawe asked for one more chance to meet Farmajo so that they can tell him that CPC rejected his request for a meeting. The leaders pledged after the Farmajo meeting; they will announce the final stance on term extension.

Some other sources also confirmed that opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame walked out of Saturday's meeting after Qoor-Qoor and Gudlawe tabled issues out of the agenda as they acted as messengers from Farmajo instead of making clear their stance on the illegal 2-year extension.

The opposition alliance in Somalia turned down a request through Galmudug, HirShabelle leaders by Farmajo for a meeting intended to disrupt the upcoming Hawiye summit on the term extension. Farmajo in the past rejected to sit down with opposition and disrupted PM Roble's efforts.

GAROWE ONLINE