The Somali Government Discusses Turkey's Mediation Between the Opposition and the Government

The Somali Government Discusses Turkey's Mediation Between the Opposition and the Government

Recently, members of the opposition announced that the Turkish government is mediating the conflict between the opposition and the Somali government, which has at times escalated to physical confrontations.

The opposition members stated that a high-level delegation sent by the Turkish government is facilitating the ongoing discussions.

Now, the Somali government, when asked about this matter, has spoken for the first time about how they view these negotiations.

The spokesperson for the President of Somalia, Cabdiraxmaan Xadaana, speaking to the BBC, stated that the Turkish government has a good relationship with the Somali government.

"The President does not reject mediation; if Turkey is coming now and they are mediating [the opposition] ... the President will certainly welcome it," he told the BBC.

Recently, opposition members who spoke to the media yesterday provided information about meetings they had with officials from the Turkish government as well as members of the international community who held separate meetings. They stated that these discussions were related to the recent violence that occurred in Mogadishu and the actions the Somali government is taking to disarm certain politicians.

"Disarmament or disarmament is a political process. It is not a security issue," said Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame while speaking to the media after meetings with Turkish officials.

The Somali government has stated that while implementing the disarmament law in Somalia, they will continue to plan for the disarmament of individuals who do not work for the government or do not have permits.

"A law has been established... that law is intended to ensure that all heavy weapons are not brought into the capital city and other areas. Every individual in power must control the weapons they carry, and they should be very light weapons," said the President's spokesperson, Cabdiraxmaan Xadaana.

Somali security forces have recently been conducting operations in areas including the Abdicasis district of the Banaadir region after former President Shariif Sheekh Axmed moved from the house he recently vacated in the Abdicasis district.

Following a confrontation between the security forces protecting Shariif Sheekh Axmed and the security forces, negotiations took place between the two sides, which ultimately led to Shariif returning to a house he had previously occupied.