Somalia’s Old Rivals Reunite in Debate on Constitution

Former Somali presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed are showing rare unity as the country debates how to write its new constitution. On Saturday, they converged in Garowe town, the capital of Puntland, one of the Somalia’s Federal Member States. The two former leaders held meetings with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and other politicians including legislators from the bicameral parliament in Mogadishu. The move was significant especially since they were on opposing sides during the 2022 presidential election in Somalia…After the meeting, Farmaajo and Ahmed issued a nine-point statement on Sunday, expressing firm opposition to current Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. They blame his administration of initiating changes to the provisional constitution without consulting…Farmaajo and Ahmed saw security as the most pressing issue for Somalia, especially in the face of feared terrorists. (The EastAfrican)