MOGADISHU (SD) – For the first since he assumed office early 2017, President Mohamed Farmaajo was forced to skipped today’s consultative forum on electoral process after he failed convince the participants to allow him chair the meeting.

According reliable sources privy to the meeting, Farmaajo whose mandate lapsed last February demanded to chair the meeting which kicked off in Somali capital but the regional states and the international partners rebuffed, paving the way for prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to take over the chairmanship.

The meeting which convened leaders of Puntland, Jubbaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states along with the mayor of Mogadishu will focus on ways to iron out the current political crisis.

The sources confirmed that the opposition and the joint alliance of Jubbaland and Puntland had demanded that Farmaajo can only attend the talks as a presidential candidate, move not seem to have been welcomed by Farmajo.

Farmaajo failed on several occasions to agree with the FMS leaders on an electoral deal, forcing the country to delay elections.

Members of the Lower House had last month passed a resolution granting the president term extension to lead the country for two more years, a move that took the country on the brink of civil war as clashes between the government troops and forces supporting the opposition flared up in the capital.

Following three days of high tension in the capital, the parliament rescinded its earlier decision, calling on the federal government and its member state to discuss on ways to hold elections in the country.