NCC Talks to Open in Mogadishu as Security and Elections Top Agenda

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The National Consultative Council chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, opens in Mogadishu today with security and political processes topping the agenda.

Federal Member State presidents are expected to arrive in the city today ahead of the crucial meeting, which comes amid heightened political developments and planned reinvigoration of the security operations against Al-Shabaab.

SSC-Khatumo President Abdiqadir Ahmed Firdhiye arrived in Mogadishu Sunday evening.

Puntland and Jubbaland, both of which have had souring relations with the Federal Government have kept off a series of NCC meetings in the recent past.

Among the top agenda items set for the meeting is the planned one-person-one-vote which starts with local council elections in Banaadir region in June and subsequently in other regions. This will be followed by elections at the Federal Member States based on a unified formula agreed to last year.

This will pave way for presidential election next year which will allow Somalis to vote directly for national lawmakers and president for the first time in close to 60 years. Notable also will be the constitutional review process, which has been ongoing.

In March 2024, the Federal Parliament completed the first four chapters of the Provisional Constitution. The Cabinet has since deliberated chapters 5-9 but is yet to be approved by parliament.

The NCC is also expected to deliberate on the security situation in the country following an upsurge of Al-Shabaab attacks especially the take over of Adan Yabal in the Middle Shabelle region last month.

This resulted in ministerial which saw formed Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Fiqi moved to head the defence docket.

The SCC-Khatumo question will also likely feature prominently in the talks. The Federal Government formally recognised the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions as the new Federal Member State last month following the Prime Minister’s visit to Laas’ Anod.