Somalia: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud chairs National Consultative Council meeting which resumed in Mogadishu today.

The meeting of the National Consultative Council, which was scheduled for yesterday, opened today in Somalia’s capital,Mogadishu.

The meeting was chaired by the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The meeting is attended by top officials including the Prime Minister of the federal government of Somalia Hamza Abdi Barre, his deputy Salah Ahmed Jama, the Presidents of the South West Regional State Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, Galmudug Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qor Qor, Hir-Shabelle Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe and the Governor of Banadir region who doubles to be the Mayor of Mogadishu.

The President of the Jubbaland Regional Government, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), is absent from the meeting of the National Consultative Council and recently left the meeting, although Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre indicated that Madobe went to the regions of his regional government for consultations.

The departure of Madobe follows a series of closed-door discussions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and the Jubaland leader at the presidential palace. The talks were reportedly aimed at securing Madobe’s backing for the federal government’s proposed one person, one vote system, which represents a major shift from Somalia’s current indirect electoral framework.

Puntland, continues to boycott the NCC meetings highlighting persistent political rifts between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Puntland administration. This political impasse points to ongoing struggles in building consensus among Somalia’s various political factions.

Although Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni recently reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to Somali unity and emphasizing that Puntland is steadfast in its dedication to the unity of Somali people.

The key issues to be discussed in the national Consultative Council has not been disclosed whether they will discuss the previous agendas or whether new agendas will be tabled but close sources indicate that the meeting will address national issues, including security, elections, and other key agendas.

Updates to follow