MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting has been postponed for the second time, amid mounting political tensions and a widening rift between the federal government and several federal member states (FMS).
The summit, initially scheduled for May 1–2 and later rescheduled for May 5, was delayed again on Sunday. Sources familiar with the matter said uncertainty remains over whether the meeting will proceed at all, as five of Somalia’s six main regional states have now withdrawn or expressed opposition to participation.
The latest postponement follows weeks of political maneuvering in Mogadishu, where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration is pushing for sweeping electoral reforms and the consolidation of a new political party. However, deep divisions over power-sharing and the status of the newly recognized SSC-Khaatumo administration have complicated efforts to bring federal and regional leaders to the table.
Widening Political Rift
Puntland and Jubbaland were the first to announce their boycott, citing unresolved constitutional disputes and lack of progress in implementing previous agreements. In recent days, three more regional states — including South West State — have also withdrawn, dealing a serious blow to the summit’s legitimacy.
Diplomatic sources say the international community is closely monitoring developments, concerned that further delays could stall key reforms and undermine efforts to stabilize the country ahead of planned elections.
Electoral Disputes and Power Consolidation
At the heart of the crisis is President Hassan Sheikh’s plan to implement a “one person, one vote” electoral system. His allies have moved to establish a new political party to support the initiative, sidelining the former ruling party, the Union for Peace and Development (UPD).
While Galmudug and HirShabelle have remained publicly supportive of the president’s vision, South West State has raised concerns over the proposed party structure, which designates President Hassan Sheikh as the presidential candidate, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre as party chairman, and Abdirahman Hussein Odowaa as secretary-general. South West was offered the deputy chairmanship — a role regional officials have dismissed as symbolic and unbalanced.
Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Adan Madobe is reportedly mediating between federal and regional actors to prevent further escalation.
SSC-Khaatumo’s Inclusion Sparks Backlash
A separate source of tension involves the federal government’s decision to include SSC-Khaatumo — a recently recognized regional administration — in the NCC talks.
SSC-Khaatumo leader Abdulqadir Ahmed Firdhiye arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday with the expectation of participating in the summit. However, multiple federal member states have objected to the move, warning that it could disrupt the delicate clan-based power-sharing formula and embolden self-rule demands in other regions.
Galmudug and South West have voiced opposition to granting SSC-Khaatumo full membership in the council. HirShabelle leaders are also said to be uneasy about the potential implications for the Hiraan region, where anti-government protests have intensified in recent weeks.
Outlook Remains Uncertain
The repeated delays and boycotts highlight growing divisions within Somalia’s federal system and cast doubt on the federal government’s ability to manage political consensus.
Unless an agreement is reached soon, analysts warn the crisis could derail ongoing reform efforts and threaten fragile gains in security and governance achieved over the past decade.
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