Dialogue is essential to stability and reform in Somalia
Press Conference (File Photo/Anadolu)

On Thursday, the United Nations stressed the need for dialogue in order to achieve stability and reform in Somalia, in light of the current political crisis in the country.

This was stated by the spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, during a press conference at the permanent headquarters of the International Organization in New York.

Earlier on Thursday, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo announced, in a presidential decree, the reduction of the powers of his Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, to appoint and dismiss, until the end of the parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.

Dujarric said, “The need for dialogue and goodwill and putting the needs of all Somalis first is essential to allow Somalia to continue on the path of stability and reform.”

He added, “We are closely following this issue, and we hope that his efforts, and the efforts of leaders of the federal states and other mediators, will help resolve the remaining differences.”

About a month ago, disputes escalated between Farmajo and Robley, against the background of the disappearance of a Somali intelligence officer, which led to the latter’s dismissal of intelligence chief Fahd Yassin from his post, which the president opposed, considering the move outside the prime minister’s powers.

Farmajo relied on reducing Robley’s powers to “the unconstitutional steps taken by the prime minister, as stipulated in Article 87 with its second and third paragraphs, and Article 90 with its second, third and fourth paragraphs of the country’s interim constitution.”

Somalia is witnessing parliamentary elections that began on July 25 and are expected to continue until late November, while the date of the presidential elections has not yet been set due to differences.

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