Somalia: Farmajo to travel to Galmadug for meeting with FMS leaders

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo will on Saturday travel to Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, where he's expected to meet regional leaders who have been in the state for the last one week, discussing political impasse in Somalia.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Villa Somalia, President Farmajo will leave Mogadishu for Dhusamareb later today but did not give a hint on how long he's expected to be in Galmadug.

At Dhusamareb, the current political impasse in Somalia will top the agenda, including the appropriate time for elections and the model that will be used. The impasse forced the leaders to hold the meeting, but Farmajo had not given a hint of attending.

"H. E Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajowho to meet FMS leadership in Dhusamareb, Galmadug state to discuss a variety of issues including the upcoming elections," read the statement, adding that the president will be leaving Mogadishu, the capital on Saturday.

Villa Somalia said the president's decision to join the regional leaders was precipitated by ongoing wrangles between regional leaders and the central government. Villa Somalia, the statement added, will help stabilize Somalia, which has been in shambles for almost three decades.

"The meeting forms part of FMS-FGS regular talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two levels of leadership for a prosperous and stable Somalia," Villa Somalia added, in a statement that was posted by Director of Communications Abdinur Mohamed.

Farmajo's decision to visit Dhusamareb comes a few days after Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire joined the regional leaders in Dhusamareb. The entire Somalia leadership is under pressure to have elections held within the stipulated time in the constitution.

Those already in Dhusamareb include Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe of Jubaland, Abdi Waare of HirShabelle, Lafta-Gareen of Southwest, Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and the host Ahmed Kariye alias Qoor Qoor of Galmadug.

Already, the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] has ruled out holding universal suffrage polls within this year as stipulated in the constitution, a move that has literally engineered the current standoff. Somalia, NIEC said, will hold elections earliest on March 2021.

However, the regional leaders and the opposition have opposed the idea, insisting that elections must be held within the stipulated time. The current constitution dictates that the regime's mandate will elapse in October this year, and tentatively, elections should be held in November this year.

Also to be discussed is the 30 percent quota for women representation and the number of representatives from Somaliland and Banadir regions. The regional leader accused Lower House of enacting electoral legislation without proper adherence to the law.

GAROWE ONLINE