The UN Security Council has called on Somalia leaders to dialogue, end the current political impasse and quickly decide on elections in the war-ravaged nation.
In a statement unanimously approved, the 15-nation Security Council called on Somalia leaders to resume talks to urgently work together in the interest of Somali people who are already suffering from the brunt of the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab.
The UN Security Council’s statement encouraged leaders to “reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections with a view to holding them as soon as possible.”
International community including the Britain and the United States called on Somalia leaders to resume dialogue a day after Somalia’s central government and federal states missed 8th February 2021 deadline and discuss on how to proceed with a vote on choosing the next president.
Earlier talks to discuss on Somalia elections failed in Dhusamareb with leaders failing to agree. Al-Shabaab on the other hand attempted to disrupt the meeting that was attended by President Farmajo, Somalia’s Prime Minister and other regional states leaders by firing mortar rounds in Dhusamareb town, the capital of Galmudug state in central Somalia.
Due to the impasse, situation has worsened with the opposition leaders saying they no longer recognized the authority of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, compounding trouble in a nation facing a violent Islamist insurgency, a locust invasion and serious food shortages.
The U.S. warned that delays in setting the election will only increase the risk of instability propagated by the Islamist terrorist groups.
The Security Council also condemned renewed violence by the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and reaffirmed support for the territorial integrity of Somalia. The Security Council will meet again on February 22 to renew the mandate of the African Union mission in Somalia.
