Somalia’s Government and Opposition Enter Second Round of Turkish-Facilitated Talks Amid Questions Over Ankara’s Neutrality

Mogadishu (WDN)- Talks between Somalia’s Federal Government and opposition groups entered their second round on Thursday, with Turkey and representatives of the international community continuing to facilitate negotiations aimed at breaking the country’s prolonged political deadlock.

The meeting is reported to be planned as a series of separate sessions with each opposition group to address the issues at the core of Somalia’s political instability and build sufficient common ground before convening all parties for a joint dialogue.

According to the schedule, the first session at 10:00 am brings together federal government negotiators and a delegation from the Nabad iyo Nolol political movement appointed by former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Turkish facilitators and international observers are attending the discussions, listening to the positions and arguments presented by both sides.

A second meeting, scheduled for 1:00 p.m., will see government representatives meet members of the Somalia Future Council, another opposition alliance, to discuss the key issues that continue to divide the rival camps.