Friday February 12, 2021
Mogadishu (HOL) - A group called the Somali Civil Society Coalition released a statement on Friday welcoming the announcement of future talks between the FGS and FMS leaders on February 15th. Still, it pushed for the negotiations to be held in Mogadishu and a more direct role for its members.
"We believe that the barriers to implementing the agreement of 17 September 2020 resulted in lost opportunities and precious time by the Heads of the Federal Government and the Federal Member States leaders, which resulted in the election delay," the statement reads in part.
Villa Somalia and the Federal Government's Ministry of Information have announced earlier this week that the highly anticipated February 15 meeting will be held in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State of Somalia. Puntland countered that Mogadishu, being the nation's capital, is the most appropriate venue for such talks. Jubbaland, which is seen as a staunch ally of Puntland in their resistance to the federal government's centralization of power, backed the decision.
The September 17 agreement allows for civil society monitoring into the election process, and many of Somalia's civil society organizations already active in mediating among electoral stakeholders.
The statement reads as follows:
We believe that the barriers to implementing the agreement of 17 September 2020 resulted in lost opportunities and precious time by the heads of the Federal Government and the Federal Member States leaders, which resulted in the election delay.
Therefore, in order not to lose the trust of the people who support the progress of the Somali state, the Union of Civil Society recommends the following:
- To host the meeting in Mogadishu
- To involve a more inclusive role for Somalia's civil society
- Hold spoilers accountable
- Maintain general stability and work together to hold elections in the country
Finally, civil society calls on all Somali intellectuals to speak up and provide some input on reaching a genuine agreement to hold peaceful elections.
