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NCC meeting in Mogadishu ends with key agreements on voter registration, anti-terror efforts, and recognition of SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member state
Somalia’s top government leaders have wrapped up a major meeting in Mogadishu, where they discussed important national issues such as security and elections. The meeting was held by the National Consultative Council (NCC), which includes leaders from the federal government and regional states. It ended on Wednesday night with an agreement to strengthen cooperation on national matters.
One of the main topics was national security. The leaders promised full support for the Somali National Army in its fight against terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab. They also agreed that federal and regional authorities need to work more closely together to improve peace and stability across the country.
Another key issue was Somalia’s electoral process. The leaders agreed that the process of registering voters should move forward quickly. Voter registration already began in Mogadishu last month and is expected to expand to other parts of the country. The regional governments were encouraged to cooperate with the National Independent Electoral Commission to make sure everything is done on time.
The Ministry of Interior was given the responsibility of preparing a legal plan to deal with a political disagreement in Jubbaland. The region has had ongoing disputes with the federal government, which have made it difficult to work together on important national goals.
One of the biggest decisions made at the meeting was the formal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member state. The Council also agreed that the process of forming this new state should continue according to Somalia’s temporary constitution. This is a significant step for the people of SSC-Khaatumo, who have long sought official recognition.
Even though there was a lot of progress during the meeting, two important regions—Puntland and Jubbaland—did not attend. These regions are in conflict with the federal government over issues such as changes to the constitution and how elections should be held. Their absence was noted, and it shows that not all political problems in Somalia have been resolved yet.
The meeting was chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and held at Villa Somalia, the presidential palace in Mogadishu. Other top leaders who attended included Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, and the presidents of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West, and SSC-Khaatumo, as well as officials from the Banadir region (which includes Mogadishu).
The NCC is the highest decision-making body in Somalia when it comes to cooperation between federal and regional governments. It focuses on the country’s biggest priorities, including national security, governance, and elections. By bringing together leaders from across the country, the NCC aims to find common ground and work towards building a stronger and more united Somalia.
In summary, the recent NCC meeting resulted in a renewed commitment to fight terrorism, speed up the election process, resolve political disagreements, and include new regions in the federal system. While not all regions were present, the decisions made could help move the country forward—if all parties continue to work together in the coming months.