MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo said on Saturday that foreign interference was undermining elections as he faces growing pressure from the international community, just hours before his term expires.
Addressing MPs at the parliament hall in Mogadishu, the Somali president spoke about the collapse of talks between federal and regional leaders aimed at bringing an end to a long-standing dispute over the upcoming elections, saying that he made compromises on a number of issues despite other leaders’ insistence on key sticking points.
Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whose four year term is due to expire within 48 hours, reiterated that he made compromise that led to the September 17 2020 electoral deal and that Puntland leader Saeed Deni wrote terms of the agreement, while other leaders were merely watching.
Amid heightened dispute with Puntland and Jubaland states, Farmajo accused the leaders of the two semi-autonomous regions of refusing to sign a new deal to break the deadlock over the vote.
Somalia’s incumbent leader blamed foreign interference for delayed elections, saying it continues to undermine efforts to hold the upcoming elections.
As he faces growing pressure from the international community, he told MPs not to listen to “what foreigners dictate” as Somalia is a sovereign country whose future should be determined by its citizens.
Representatives of the international community in the Horn of Africa nation have not immediately commented on the accusations.
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