Fresh twist in Somalia’s proposed election talks

Proposed talks on Somalia’s delayed election have been thrown into confusion after the authorities in Puntland region, the suggested venue, said the negotiations should be held in the capital, Mogadishu.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Tuesday invited federal states for talks next Monday in Puntland’s Garowe town.

But Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni has said Mogadishu is better placed as it will allow the “participation of foreign missions, political stakeholders and international partners”.

President Farmajo’s office is yet to respond to Puntland’s proposal.

Talks between the government and federal states on how to proceed with elections collapsed last week..

President Farmajo’s term ended on Monday but a parliamentary resolution passed last year allows the president and parliament to remain in office until successors are elected.