Sunday April 4, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Talks between the Federal Government and regional states leaders entered the second day Sunday with no agreement yet on the preliminaries, sources close to the talks said.
By Sunday afternoon, the leaders were still meeting at the airforce hangar in Afisyoni area in what sources said was still a ‘groundwork’ session amid fears of a collapse should the two sides fail to work out their differences.
President Mohamed Farmaajo opened the talks yesterday bringing together the five federal member state presidents and Banaadir regional governor. Information minister Osman Dubber called it an ‘icebreaker’ affirming the difficult moments ahead for the seven leaders as the international community piles pressure.
The president’s side which includes Ali Gudlaawe (HirShabelle), Ahmed Qoorqoor of Galmudug and their South West counterpart Abdiaziz Lafta Gareen have stood ground against reopening of the September 17 agreement and instead called for its express implementation.
They also want the unchallenged endorsement of the Baidoa Framework developed by a joint technical committee in February.
But the Jubbaland-Puntland faction which is allied to the opposition has been demanding the inclusion of opposition presidential candidates, determination of federal institutions whose term has expired and security around the elections.
The meeting continues.