MOGADISHU — The United Nations and the European Union have expressed regret after advance security teams from Puntland and Jubaland were prevented from arriving in Mogadishu for the planned National Consultative Forum.
The incident has sparked a heated exchange, with a senior Somali MP sharply criticizing the EU’s reaction as “farcical” and lacking objectivity.
UN and EU Call for Consensus
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) issued a statement regretting that the regional teams could not deploy because “necessary technical clearances were not granted.”
The mission urged the rapid completion of preparatory work by technical teams and called on the Federal Government of Somalia and the leadership of the Somali Future Council to create favorable conditions for the talks.
“We strongly encourage all sides to prioritize the agreed dialogue forum to reach consensus on elections and other national issues ahead of the upcoming end of Constitutional mandates,” UNTMIS stated.
Similarly, the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, described the situation as a “shame,” expressing hope that the misunderstanding would be resolved. She emphasized the need for a conducive environment to allow substantive discussions on the electoral model to proceed.
MP Abdirizak Mohamed Hits Back
The international commentary drew a stinging rebuke from Abdirizak Mohamed, a Member of Parliament and former Minister.
Responding directly to the EU Ambassador, Mr. Mohamed characterized her statement as a reflection of a “hubristic mindset,” arguing that posting such comments without first seeking clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) displayed a lack of objectivity.
“The notion that EU imposition is required, as FGS’s indigenous tools aren’t capable of fixing differences, is farcical,” the MP stated, defending the government’s internal capacity to manage political disputes without external interference.
