Somalia: appeasement in Mogadishu after the withdrawal of mutinous soldiers
Somali soldiers returned to their barracks on Friday, May 7 after an agreement with the prime minister.
REUTERS - FEISAL OMAR
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Pro-opposition troops had taken up positions in the capital in recent weeks in protest against the president's extension of mandate.
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With our correspondent in Nairobi,
Albane Thirouard
Their departure follows an agreement reached earlier in the week between the government and the opposition.
In exchange for returning to their barracks and remaining apolitical, no sanctions will be taken against the mutinous troops.
Hundreds of heavily armed men deserted the trenches dug at the end of April and removed the dams they had erected.
Then they joined a camp outside the capital on Friday, to then return to their bases elsewhere in the country.
An appeasement greeted with relief in Mogadisico where no one forgot the
day of April 25
, when clashes between pro-opposition and pro-government soldiers had broken out, in reaction to the extension of President Farmajo's mandate.
That day, between 60,000 and 100,000 people fled the violence, according to the UN.
A first positive step for the
Prime Minister
, in charge since May 1 of the organization of the elections.
But much remains to be done for the holding of elections.
The situation remains fragile.
An army commander has warned the president not to try to stay in power.
And disagreements between the government and the opposition over the organization of the elections have not been resolved.
To unblock the political impasse, Mohamed Roble invited regional chiefs to discussions on May 20.
The African Union is also trying to mediate, by sending the former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, whom she has just appointed to the post of High Representative for Somalia.
In a letter published on Saturday, however, the opposition alliance denounces the presence, among the African Union team, of Babatunde Taiwo.
Coming from Amisom, he is seen as close to Villa Somalia.
The opposition therefore requests its withdrawal, failing which they will not accept the participation of the High Representative in the discussions.
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Somalia
Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo
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