MOGADISHU, Somalia – The president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh re-opened the much-anticipated National Consultative Council [NCC] meeting at the Presidential place in Mogadishu on Sunday after 20 days of hiatus.
The meeting brought together the leaders of HirShabelle Ali Gudlawe, Galmudug Ahmed Qoor-Qoor, and Southwest State Abdiaziz Laftagareen as well as the president of Somalia, his prime minister Hamza Abdi Barre and the mayor of Mogadishu.
The office of the president said in a statement that the NCC will focus on key agenda, including the security, election model, and state-building efforts and the leaders will issue a joint communique at the end of the closed-door talks.
The forum was boycotted by the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Madobe respectively due to standoff over some topics in the agenda.
There have been unsuccessful efforts made by the Somali president through Kenyan president William Ruto to bring Ahmed Madobe back to the talks, according to the reports. Recently, President Hassan Sheikh said he is committed to leading Somalia to a democratic popular vote, for the first time in more than 50 years.
The opposition leaders termed the president’s pledge as an attempt to extend his stay in office, a move that could plunge the country into chaos and political instability.
HORN LIFE