MOGADISHU (SD) – The opposition and the leaders of Jubbaland and Puntland state have teamed up to form a new alliance to fight Farmajo ahead of talks between the federal government and member states.
In a communique, the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) alongside the two states announced the new alliance dubbed National Salvation Council following a four-day meeting in Somali capital, Mogadishu.
“The leaders have been meeting for some time to reach a consensus on how to hold free and fair elections in the country, and it is clear that the outgoing President, Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, is a hindrance,” the NSC said in a statement.
The alliance which will be led by Senate speaker Abdi Hashi will work to ‘prevent the country from failing politically and leading to delays in the reconstruction process.
According to the communique, the NSC will also work on reconciliation process which would pave the way for a political settlement to allow the country to hold elections.
The new alliance also accused Farmaajo of failing to convene another round of talks and using security forces to block opposition protests.
The announcement of the council comes barely hours after Puntland and Jubbland state representatives skipped the second round of technical committee meeting in Mogadishu.
Both Puntland and Jubbaland authorities have confirmed that their representatives have not attended the committee talks.
“No consultative meeting on Somali elections has yet opened in Mogadishu,” Puntland minister of Interior Mohamed Abdirahman said.
Jubbaland Minister of State in the Office of the President Hirsi Ganni made
similar sentiments.
“Jubaland is not part of and is not aware of any meeting that has opened for a
technical committee as a prelude to a post-conference meeting,” Ganni said.
Categories: Latest News