Page 15 - Metro Record May 2021

THE METRO RECORD - MAY 2021 15
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Somali president calls for 'urgent

discussions' with opponents

Somalia's government on Wednesday acting humanitarian coordinator for southern Mogadishu that killed three
urged people who had fled violence in the Somalia. people.
capital to return home, as tensions eased
after the president called for elections and One of Farmajo's opponents, Abdirahman "The blast was huge. I was sleeping when it
renewed dialogue with his political rivals. Abdishakur, rejected the president's occurred, and the roof of my house shook.
overture and accused him of plotting to I went outside to check what happened,
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed cling to power. and saw ambulances rushing into scene,"
announced he would seek parliament's said witness Abdukadir Moalim.
approval for fresh elections, appearing to "President Farmaajo lost an opportunity
abandon a two-year extension to his last night to say goodbye to the Somali Clan divisions
mandate that ignited the country's worst people," the influential opposition leader The clashes Sunday were triggered by an
political violence in years. said in a statement. influx into the capital of soldiers from the
Somali National Army loyal to Farmajo's
The president, widely known by his But the president's address, broadcast late political opponents, the International
nickname Farmajo, also called for "urgent at night after hours of anticipation, did Crisis Group (ICG) said.
discussions" with his political opponents, ease fears of an imminent return to
who had refused to recognize his authority fighting in Mogadishu, where heavily- At least three people -- two police officers
since his four-year term lapsed in armed government and opposition forces and an opposition fighter -- were killed in
February. control different parts of the capital. the skirmishes.

The announcement offered a brief reprieve Terror attack The UN, among others, expressed alarm
to Mogadishu, which has been on a knife's Some people cautiously made their way that Somalia's poorly-paid security forces
edge since the political crisis erupted into back to their neighborhoods but left loved appeared to be fragmenting along the
gunfire on Sunday between rival factions of ones behind in order to be sure it was safe political and clan lines.
the security forces. for them to return.
"A lot of these security forces were trained
"I call on those people who have fled their "I want to bring them back, but first I will to fight against Al-Shabaab... and are not
homes because of the recent violent observe the situation," said Hayat Ali, a even deployed against Al-Shabaab. Rather,
conflict in town to return," said Prime mother of three. they're focusing on each other," ICG senior
Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. analyst for Somalia, Omar Mahmood, told
But some opposition fighters vowed to AFP.
"I also call on members of the armed forces stand their ground, remaining wary of
to help people return safely to their homes Farmajo and his promises. Farmajo and Somalia's five semi-
and businesses." autonomous states struck a deal in
"We don't want a two-year extension to September that paved the way for indirect
Roble is one of several allies of the escalate to 20 years. We don't want anyone elections, under a model whereby special
president who on Tuesday rejected his to carry out a power grab," said Osman delegates chosen by clan elders pick
mandate extension, heaping pressure on Mohamed Mohamud, an opposition lawmakers, who in turn choose the
the embattled leader. commander. president.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said Somalia's foreign backers had been That agreement collapsed as Farmajo and
Wednesday that up to 100,000 people had appealing for restraint. the leaders of two states, Puntland and
fled the violence, including evacuees from Jubaland, squabbled over the terms.
other parts of the war-torn country who They warned that the internal power Multiple rounds of UN-backed talks failed
had sought refuge in the capital. struggle threatened stability and sapped to bridge the impasse.
military efforts to repel the Al-Shabaab
"Apart from displacing innocent civilians, insurgency. In his late-night address, Farmajo called
the initial violence has created uncertainty for the resumption of talks to negotiate a
and fear of disruptions of humanitarian The jihadists claimed responsibility for a way toward holding elections as laid out in
assistance to hundreds of thousands of suicide bombing Wednesday outside a the September agreement.
vulnerable people," said Cesar Arroyo, government building for prison wardens in

BECAUSE THEY WERE ORDINARY WOMEN WHO DID
EXTRA ORDINARY THINGS! LIKE GROWING WINGS
WHEN THEY NEEDED TO FLY!
THEY JUST DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WHEN
THE WORLD WOULD BREAK THEIR MEN…
THEY BECAME UNBREAKABLE!
~ Rev. Judy H. Moss ~