Somalia: Former Somali President Denies Joining Talks Between Somali Government and Opposition

What the report says

Somalia’s Nabad iyo Nolol party, led by former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, has denied reports that it joined a joint meeting between the federal government and opposition groups. According to the statement reported by Shabelle and carried by AllAfrica, the party said Farmaajo did not attend the political talks and instead met commanders of Somalia’s armed forces at his residence in Mogadishu, where they delivered a message from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud about a proposed conference.

The planned political conference is scheduled for November 14-18 and is part of renewed efforts to narrow the gap between the federal government and opposition figures. The dispute has focused on Somalia’s electoral system and the country’s broader political direction. The party said Farmaajo urged that any dialogue be built on trust and inclusiveness so that any outcome would be acceptable to all sides.

Farmaajo also called for negotiations to continue from where they broke down on September 3, rather than restarting the process, according to the statement. He additionally emphasized the role of the international community in helping facilitate dialogue among political actors. The report does not explain why he was not at the reported joint meeting, but the party firmly rejected suggestions that it had taken part.