AU says Somalia’s rejection of special envoy is an ‘unprecedented’ disappointment

The African union (AU) has expressed the rejection of its High Representative to Somalia, Former president of Ghana John Maham, by the federal government of Somalia as ‘unprecident disappointment’ terming the action as utter retrogressing.

A statement from the AU said he will “will work with the Somali stakeholders to reach a mutually acceptable compromise towards an all-encompassing resolution for the holding of Somali elections in the shortest possible time.”
But Somalia out rightly rejected the appointment of former Ghanaian President John Mahama as African Union’s (AU) special envoy to help mediate its political impasse.
Somalia argues that the former Head of State has “extensive links” with Kenya, and has written to AU Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat notifying him that Somalia will no longer support Mr. Mahama in his new role.
Mohamed Abdirazak, Somalia’s Foreign and International Cooperation Minister, says the Ghanaian ex-leader is closely associated with the leadership in Kenya, without specifying who in particular. Based on this alone, he says, Mr. Mahama cannot be trusted to be impartial and deliver an acceptable solution.
In a letter , Mr. Abdirazak claims that the AU did not thoroughly scrutinize Mr. Mahama’s background before appointing him to the role.
In a letter to the AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mr Mahama indicated he will no longer be taking up the job, citing trust issues raised by the President of Somalia, Mohamed Farmaajo.
A statement posted on his website said the former Ghanaian leader feels “the high political importance of the proposed assignment requires that the High Representative enjoy the unalloyed support and cooperation of all political stakeholders.”