The United Nations (UN) Security Council called on Somalia’s federal government and regional states to urgently resume talks and agree on arrangements to hold elections as soon as possible.
A September agreement allows for the president and others to stay in office after Monday’s election date if needed, but UN special representative James Swan has warned that going beyond that day brings “an unpredictable political situation in a country where we certainly don’t need any more of that”.
After a closed virtual briefing by Swan, council members issued a statement welcoming efforts by leaders of the government and regional states to find agreement on implementing the September deal but also expressing concern that talks ended without agreement on Saturday.
“The members of the Security Council called for Somalia’s leaders to resume their dialogue urgently and work together, in the interests of the people of Somalia, to reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections with a view to holding them as soon as possible,” said a statement approved unanimously by the 15-nation UNSC on Tuesday.
It noted the announcement of further talks on February 15.
Estonia’s UN ambassador, Sven Jürgenson, welcomed the new round of talks, saying after the council meeting: “Somali leaders need to overcome the differences and act in the best interests of the country and the people.”
Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who is seeking a second four-year term, blamed unnamed “foreign interventions” on Saturday for the failure of the talks and accused Puntland and Jubbaland states of refusing to support the September agreement.
Legislators in Parliament booed the president, pounding their desktops, as he addressed them after days of discussions fizzled. The president’s critics accuse him of delaying to extend his current mandate.—Al Jazeera
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues