MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Talks between Somalia’s federal government and the Somali Future Council – a bloc that includes the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland as well as opposition figures – are on the brink of collapse after their second meeting ended without results.
The latest round of discussions took place Sunday at the presidential palace. It was the second meeting in a week aimed at breaking a deepening deadlock over the country’s electoral process.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed his position in favor of universal suffrage elections, beginning with nationwide municipal polls followed by elections for the federal parliament and, subsequently, the president.
He did not address the conduct of elections to choose leaders in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states. The leaders of those states were granted term extensions after aligning with his political alliance.
Opposition leaders, however, insist that elections for the regional leadership of Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Southwest states must be held first. They also want presidential and parliamentary elections at the federal level conducted before May 15.
The two sides failed to narrow their differences during Sunday’s meeting. The talks came close to collapse as council leaders prepared to hold a press conference announcing that negotiations had broken down.
Mohamud intervened, urging council leaders not to address the media and to give him until Tuesday to salvage the discussions. It remains unclear whether negotiations will resume.
Analysts had already predicted that the talks were unlikely to resolve the long-running standoff over the country’s upcoming elections. Mohamud’s term expires in three months, and both sides entered negotiations under international pressure rather than by choice. Each camp appears determined to maintain its position while seeking to shift blame to the other if the process fails.
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