National Consultative Forum set to kick off today in Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The National Consultative Forum will kick off today at the Presidential Palace in Villa Somalia, bringing together the various heads of state and regional authorities. The meeting will be chaired by the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohammed.

 The presidents of four federal states of Somalia—HirShabelle, South West, Galmudug, and Jubaland administrations—arrived in the capital yesterday to take part in the conference, while the Puntland Head of State, Said Deni, has physically absented himself from the event, saying he would attend the event via online.

The discussion during the two-day event will center on the disagreements among Somalia’s political actors, who are at odds over how to divide national resources, donor money, and authority.

 A few days ago, the regional governments’ finance ministers announced that they had ceased all collaboration with the Federal ministry of finance after they failed to reach an agreement on the share of $100 million in financial help from the World Bank.

 The meeting will also focus on various issues affecting the country, including insecurity, the Al-Shabaab menace and drought issues, according to a statement by the Somali Minister of Information, Daoud Aweys Jama.