New round of crucial talks to end poll impasse in Somalia starts

[Deeq A.]

A new round of talks aimed at resolving the electoral impasse in Somalia finally kicked off in the capital of Mogadishu Saturday amid pressure from the international community for a consensus.

Mohamed Moalimuu, the government spokesman, said President Mohamed Farmajo has officially opened the consultative meeting bringing together all leaders of the five federal member states to help break the impasse which has delayed holding elections.

The meeting between the government side led by President Farmajo and regional leaders from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Puntland, Jubaland and Southwest states will finalize implementation of the electoral model, building on the work of the technical committee which met in Baidoa in the southwest region on Feb. 15-17.

Efforts to end the electoral stalemate in Somalia have intensified with the international community urging resumption of talks, while the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC), an umbrella body representing presidential candidates, is proposing the formation of a transitional council to oversee elections, citing Farmajo’s continued stay at the helm untenable.

A major concern is the latest spate of attacks by al-Shabab militants who are determined to disrupt the national polls in order to reassert their influence.

Failure to resolve the electoral impasse has plunged Somalia into a political crisis since Farmajo’s term officially ended on Feb. 8 while the four-year term of parliament ended on Dec. 27, 2020.

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