Somalia’s Farmajo moves to end electoral impasse

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has called for a meeting with federal state leaders next week to resolve the impasse on how to proceed with elections.

The term of President Farmajo ended on Monday after talks on the elections collapsed on 5 February.

Opposition groups have said they no longer recognise Mr Farmajo’s authority and called for the formation of a transitional body.

The president’s office tweeted about the meeting scheduled for next week in Garowe, Puntland state:

H.E Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo President of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall, on Monday 15th Feb 2021, host a Federal and State level Summit on the implementation of the 17 Sep Elections Agreement. The leadership convention will be held in Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia.

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) February 9, 2021

The UN Security Council on Tuesday urged Somalia’s leaders to “reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections, with a view of holding them as soon as possible”.

It welcomed the announcement of further talks on 15 February.

African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat had on Monday made a similar call.