The conference of federal government President Mohamed Farmaajo and regional state leaders in Galmudug this week may have been an anti-climax; but it opened important channels for Somalia’s future.

The meeting, now known as Phase II of Dhusamareb Conference did not resolve the continual problem in Somalia: which electoral model to be used at the next elections.

But there were positives. First, the photo op itself may have been a good publicity stunt to a public that has been so fed up with usual wrangling between federal states and the FGS. The details of what was discussed in the absence of cameras have not been revealed, but the fact that the leaders could sit down under one roof, shake hands and share views, after more than a year of wrangling was a positive step.

There is no reason to celebrate or be fooled that Somali leaders are now united just because they shared a platform. After all, it is not the first time such photo ops have happened. In fact, what the public needs is commitment that the pledges they made this week will come to pass.

From the outset, the Dhusmareb meeting appeared to cross the bridge of good terms, shelving personal differences for the sake of the country.

A dispatch publicised on Wednesday said the leaders had ‘agreed’ to have timely election. But they also agreed to find a model of elections through a joint technical committee between the FGS and the FMS. What that Committee will recommend, or when it actually recommends, may or may not be used in the next elections.

In other words, the Dhusamareb meeting created hope for elections on time, but has given uncertainty on the type of elections to be held.

The creation of a committee also raises questions on the kind of trust that exists for public institutions in Somalia. The National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] had said any model of elections can only be held in March at the earliest time possible…or September if it were to be fully biometric. After the Dhusamareb, will the NIEC be compelled to hold elections in a schedule it already deemed unfeasible?

Second, will parliament which has been so divisive on the elections regulations now unite and pass any remaining legal changes to enable elections? It was important that President Farmaajo issued a statement, through his spokesperson, vowing never to interfere with the electoral body.

But the Dhusamareb meeting, when leaders resume in two weeks’ time, must also pledge not to interfere with the public institutions. Somalia already operates in a sort of lacuna. Without a functioning constitutional court, the next saviour for the public should have been the bicameral parliament. The two Houses of Parliament, however, have differed bitterly in the recent past to an extent that the Senate accused the Lower House of altering proposed regulations for elections.

This is why we think the next portion of solutions should be provided through political will. Since public institutions do not inspire confidence yet, the political leaders themselves can rescue the country. They opened good communication channels last time in Dhusamareb. They cannot afford to shut those doors now. They must continue to speak with one another, discuss solutions and forever choose what is best for Somalia; not their stomachs.