Somalia’s opposition parties to unite against current leader in next elections

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ISTANBUL, Turkey - The Forum for National Parties [FNP], a coalition that brings together six parties in Somalia announced on Thursday they have agreed to form a unified political party, in a dramatic approach focused on defeating President Farmajo in the upcoming polls.

The FNP made the declaration through a statement issued following a five-day meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.

Former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the architects of the coalition, led the Turkey talks, which could shape the much anticipated parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020-2021.

Somalia is set to hold first universal suffrage elections this year, although stakeholders are yet to reach consensus over among others, identification of constituencies and implementation of affirmative action.

Also in contestation is a clause in Election Law that paves way for unconstitutional term extension, and the representation of Somaliland and Banadir regions in parliament, electoral commission conceded.

But in Turkey, the opposition bigwigs agreed to fold their respective parties and form a single "unified party" which could increase "stakes" in their favor both in presidential and parliamentary polls, a statement published on Thursday read.

To consolidate the agreement, the statement clarified, "a committee has been tasked to work on technical aspects and craft the new structure within 45 days".

Once completed, the newly constituted party shall field a single presidential candidate and parliamentary candidates across the country, with the aim of garnering majority seats, they opined.

Conspicuously, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, the leader of Wadajir party and current opposition boss, is not a party to the new arrangement. This, pundits say, could derail much-needed opposition unity ahead of elections.

FGS has been subjected to criticism for allegedly being reluctant to prepare for the polls, and the opposition team insisted that "we want unconstitutional dialogue with all stakeholders to solve the impasse urgently".

The team also backed resolutions by the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] which has called for "timely credible elections" during last week's sitting in New York.

Opposition's reunion comes amid immense pressure against the FGS, in which regional leaders accuse Mogadishu of "secret plot to install his loyalists" ahead of December polls.

Already, skirmishes have been reported in some parts of the country involving Somali National Army [SNA] and regional troops and militias, with Jubaland and Galmadug being the latest victims of "Villa Somalia takes over".

The feuds, the US and Kenya have warned, paves way for a resurgence of the Al-Shabaab, which had considerably lost its former territories due to frequent raids by SNA and allied forces.

And in Turkey, the opposition chiefs accused the FGS of "misusing SNA troops for transient political gains", warning that Mogadishu must "stop destabilizing federal states" and focus on "defeating" Al-Shabaab militants.

Somalia has been without a stable government since the ouster of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, only relying upon or weak UN-backed administrations for a decade now, which are yet to offer credible leadership.

By the end of 2021, the UN is hoping to withdraw completely from Somalia by handing over duties to SNA, and the process has since kicked off. There are about 22,000 AMISOM troops in the war-torn nation.

GAROWE ONLINE

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