Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed the opposition conference in Kismayo, sending a direct message to the politicians gathered there.
The President said that the federal government is ready for dialogue and compromise, but that the Kismayo conference should produce views and points that the Somali government and people can buy from and negotiate with the opposition leaders.
“I say to the brothers in Kismayo, we have now come together to reach an agreement. We cannot go to Kismayo and close the airports. We do not have anything that the Somali people can understand. We are ready to compromise,” the President said.
President Hassan Sheikh also revealed that political discussions have been ongoing between the government and the opposition for two months, which focused on the fateful issues of the country. He noted that mutual acceptance is more important than anything else, but there is a problem that arises from always remaining in the same place.
The President pointed out that there were politicians who accepted the government’s vision and others who rejected it, but the consensus was submitted to the Federal Parliament of Somalia for legal implementation.
“I cannot understand the logic of the Jasiira Hotel not staying in Kismayo; forming parties and coming up with a vision,” he added.
Meanwhile, the President warned against reaching a situation where weapons are threatened, noting that if a day comes when a gun is taken up, it will be one that will be resisted in a brotherly manner, saying “stay,” to save the unity of the country.
He stressed that Somalia can never tolerate a dictatorial system, and at the same time it needs a stable politics based on consultation and mutual respect.
The President’s statement comes as the opposition conference in Kismayo entered its third day today, and politicians with different views from the federal government are meeting there, discussing the general situation of the country and the future political direction.
