Somali National Army urged to remain neutral in Galmudug political standoff

The political coalition Forum for National Parties has called on the Federal Government to refrain from interfering with the Galmudug state presidential elections while urging national and foreign troops to remain neutral in the process amid confusion on the process which has seen factions elect their own leaders.

 The coalition led by former Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said in a statement the situation in Galmudug was already fragile and any further interference could lead to conflicts and destabilization.

“We call upon the Federal Government to refrain from further interference with the Galmudug political process,” the leaders said, adding, “the Somali National Army (SNA) should remain neutral and not be entangled in the process.”

The statement comes a day ahead of a planned election of Galmudug president led by pro-Federal Government faction slated for Sunday.

A faction of MPs allied to the outgoing president Ahmed Haaf sitting in Galkaayo elected a new speaker Wednesday and said it was extending the term of Haaf by two years ‘so that he can finish a four-year term.’

Haaf came into office in 2017 following the resignation of then President Abdikarin Guled.

Following the move by the Haaf faction, the Ahu Sunna side elected outgoing Galmudug State chief minister Mohamed Shakir as president on Thursday in the capital Dhusamareb.

In their statement Friday, FNP also urged foreign troops in Galmudug not to be involved in the electoral process but instead provide security.

The coalition warned against interference by foreign troops as was the case in Jubbaland presidential elections in September 2019 and in South West in December 208.

The coalition also urged stakeholders among them, candidates and professionals, to take an active role in spearheading talks to calm the situation and reach a consensus.

They further urged the international community to speak out on the ongoing political crisis.