Tuesday February 2, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Jubbaland president Ahmed Madobe has landed in Dhusmareb to join President Mohamed Farmaajo and other regional governments leaders for the fourth round of electoral talks in the central Somalia town.
Madobe arrived earlier at around 11 am and were received by their host president Ahmed Qoor-qoor. This will be the first time the Jubbaland leader is meeting with Farmaajo since last September.
Puntland’s Deni who was expected to arrive today has not arrived yet in Dhusamareb. Both Madobe and his Deni have been at loggerheads with Farmaajo over the elections setting out demands which have since gone unheeded.
The international community led by UN head in Somalia James Swan successfully pressured the two FMS leaders last week to drop their stance and name their respective electoral committees.
Deni joined forces with Madobe to demand the withdrawal of federal forces in Gedo region but Farmaajo has since turned a deaf ear to the calls.
The Dhusamareb IV meeting is expected to conclude the long-running disputes which have seen elections postponed three times since October. The Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) which brings together 14 presidential candidates has welcomed the Dhusamareb talks and called for an agreement to allow elections take place.