Kenya-Somalia quarrel threatens AU efforts to broker political deal
Monday May 17 2021
Summary
Officially, the African Union says it is consulting members to determine the next step, but the continental body has also expressed concerns about Somalia’s decision to defy a 55-member body’s decision to offer help, ironically, initially requested by Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
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The African Union has hinted at sticking with former Ghanaian President John Mahama as special envoy to Somalia, even as a simmering diplomatic tiff between Mogadishu and Nairobi seems to stall his deployment.
These details emerged last week in frantic back channelling by the continental body when leaders gathered in Kampala to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni’s sixth term.
(Bloomberg) Somalia will expedite elections in a bid to quell instability and coax donors into releasing funds needed to pay the nation’s security forces and other state employees, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak said.
Farmaajo to address anxious Somalia public as allies flee his camp
Wednesday April 28 2021
People hold posters of Somalia s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed during the protest against him in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 25, 2021. PHOTO | AFP
Summary
With the decamping of his two main allies, Farmaajo could on Tuesday decide to return to dialogue for an indirect election as demanded by the opposition. Or, he could stay put and create more turmoil.
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Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo was on Tuesday evening expected to deliver a national address, as more of his closest allies fled his camp over a simmering electoral dispute.
Somalia s Farmaajo backs down from controversial term extension theeastafrican.co.ke - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theeastafrican.co.ke Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Amisom halts handover plan in Somalia as poll fuels clan politics
Monday April 26 2021
Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Burundi have all contributed troops to African Union Mission in Somalia. PHOTO | FILE
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The African Union will retain a grip on Somalia’s security apparatus following fears that the country was retreating to clan politics over an electoral impasse.
The African Union Peace and Security Council, at a virtual meeting last week on Thursday, condemned President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s endorsement of an extension of term passed by the Lower House, and said it will monitor troop movements in Somalia through the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).