CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL DEADLOCK AT PRESIDENT MOHAMUD’S FACE-SAVING CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE IN MOGADISHU

Based on the readout issued by the Consultative Conference concluded yesterday in Mogadishu by the leaders of FGS and former politicians, major issues raised and discussed there ended up in deadlock, while others have been avoided.

1. Somaliland aggression against Laas Anood has been ignored or failed to get into the agenda altogether:
2. One Person One Vote conducted recently in Puntland State of Somalia has been ignored, while the people of Somalia and the rest of the world applauded this milestone achievement;
3. Most constitutional and political sticking points ended up in stating principles to continue deliberating in potential next sessions – these include elections, the constitutional structure of the Federal Government against the backdrop of recent presidential proposals to reform the Office of Prime Minister by reducing it to a mere ceremonial post attached to the presidency, and government proposal on term extensions;
4. Attempt at Marginalization of the important political and Constitutional weight of Puntland State couldn’t fly at this face-saving gathering for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as expressed by the unanimous decision to reach out to the leaders of Puntland Government.
5. By committing to continue similar consultations in the future, the National Consultative Council (NCC) between FGS and FMS is being phased out;
6. Basically, this conference has failed to make any significant headways on thorny political and constitutional issues the leaders of FGS sought help, or rather a salvation for their own survival.
7. Postscript. Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Ministers Abdiweli Sheikh and Saacid Shirdoon boycotted this meeting. [This breaking news has been updated after posting.]