Somalia: President again invites CIC leaders to Mogadishu for talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has for the second time invited heads of the Federal States to Mogadishu for talks amid deepening political rift, Garowe Online reports.

In a statement released on Saturday, Oct. 27, President Farmajo reiterated his call for a consultative meeting to iron out the current deadlock between his Federal Government and the regional states.

"The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo in respect to unity, cohesion and the interest of the nation again calls on regional leaders to attend a consultative meeting to seek a solution for their grievances," read the statement in part.

The President added that he will make direct contact with all leaders of the Federal States, saying he believes that dialogue and cooperation is the only way to move the country out of the current impasse.

The call came days after Puntland Southwest, Galmudug and Jubbaland who cut off relations with Farmajo's administration last month announced new political party and plan to form a unified force, drawing 1,000 soldiers each to flush out Al-Shabaab from their territories.

In a communiqué issued at the end of a four-day conference held in Garowe this month, the Federal States' leaders blamed Villa Somalia for failing the security and frequent interference in their states.

The CIC leaders decided to take the security matter into their own hands, throwing away the mandate of the National Leaders' Council, made up of 5 Federal States and the Federal Government of Somalia. 

GAROWE ONLINE