Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) – As the plane carrying Somali prime minster and his delegation touched down at the Mogadishu airport on Monday, two men who would otherwise take separate routes few days earlier emerge and smile: Abdiweli Gaas and Abdikarim Guled.
Thanks to the recent peace deal, the goodwill gesture by two men, the presidents of Puntland and its neighbouring Galmudug state whose forces battled for the control of the central Somali town of Galkayo in deadly clashes that killed at least 20 people gives an unusual perception: We are at peace with each other.
One week ago, the two leaders would avoid seeing each other, ignoring calls for an inclusive meeting by them to end the hostilities,something which complicated the mediation efforts.
n Saturday, the two presidents signed a ceasefire deal brokered by Somali prime minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke this week. The truce has taken into effect on Sunday as the two sides withdrew troops and armaments from battlegrounds.
The two leaders arrived to attend Somali government-sponsored high level Somali National Consultative Forum that convened Tuesday to discuss about the country’s upcoming 2016 electoral process.
The Mogadishu consultative forum which involved the country stakeholders including regional leaders, civil society and international community representatives who had a lengthy debate about
the ‘guiding principles’ for the upcoming elections concluded late Tuesday.
Speaking at the forum, Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged the two regions to avoid further clashes, warning leaders who participate ‘shameful’ acts.
“I have said already, and I will say it again: this cannot happen again. There will be no impunity for instigators or participants of such shameful events.” He said, urging the two regional leaders who
attended the forum to end their dispute.
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the Government would come to an end in August and September 2016,
respectively.
Somalia’s government has earlier dismissed the likelihood of holding popular elections due to security challenges.
The international community which is spearheading efforts aimed at restoring peace and order into the horn of Africa nation shattered by decades-old conflict mandated the current government to lead country into general elections following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a new parliament and adoption of a new constitution in 2012.