Political talks in Mogadishu entered into the second day with several major issues sticking out as challenges to the discussions. Nonetheless, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, and the presidents of Puntland, Jubaland and Southwest State proceeded with the crucial meeting at the heavily-fortified Presidential compound, Villa Somalia.
The leaders deliberated on Electoral Implementation Teams (EITs) at federal and regional levels, traditional elders mapping by state, clear Terms of References (TORs) for conflict resolution committee, expediting Upper House formation, creation of additional seats for Banadir region in the Upper House, electoral security taskforce, women quota in parliament, the election timetable and financing mechanisms for the elections.
Sources at the meeting told Garowe Online that the Somali leaders are yet to agree on the composition of the Conflict Resolution Committee and terms of references for the electoral implementation teams. Earlier, the Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) chairman Omar Degey said the team would soon embark on preparations for 2016 polls.