MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia’s international partners have today called on the leaders of the federal government and regional states to talks to finalise electoral process deal.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, international community urged all signatories of the 17 September agreement to come together urgently to finalize implementation of the electoral model.

The partners said the leaders are needed to materialise the work of the Technical Committee which met in Baidoa on 15-16 February.

“Federal and Member State leaders should also maintain open lines of communication with other Somali political leaders and civil society to ensure the elections have the broadest possible support and electoral bodies act with independence from political interests,” the statement reads in part.

International community expressed concerned over the violent events which occurred in Mogadishu on 19 February.

“We call on all parties to maintain calm and exercise restraint to allow political dialogue to advance,” the partners said.

The statement underscored that International partners are actively supporting Somalis to achieve this outcome.

“It is now more urgent than ever for Somalia’s political leaders to place the national interest first, and work together to hold elections that are broadly supported as soon as possible to move the country forward,” the partners noted.

The call comes hours after Somali government accused Puntland and Jubbaland state leaders of opposing the implementation of the agreement of the electoral process deal by the federal government and its member states

Somali foreign minister, Mohamed Abdirisack Mohamud who addressed UN Security Council said the two leaders who are among the signatories of the agreement remained obstacle to the implementation of the electoral process deal by the federal government and its member states.

“Regrettably, the two FMS leaders who were the penholders for the 17th September political agreement have remained a constant obstacle to its finalisation,” the minister said.