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Somalia’s National Consultative Council (NCC) has entered its second day of discussions in Mogadishu, with federal and regional leaders addressing key national priorities despite the absence of Puntland and Jubbaland. The summit, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, is focused on security operations, electoral reforms, and intergovernmental relations, as the country navigates critical governance challenges.
The meeting brings together leaders from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West, SSC-Khaatumo, and the Banadir regional administration. Notably, SSC-Khaatumo leader Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye is participating for the first time as a recognized federal member state representative, following the federal government’s formal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo last month. His inclusion marks a shift in Somalia’s political landscape, reinforcing the evolving dynamics within the federal system.
One of the central topics under discussion is Somalia’s ambitious voter registration drive ahead of municipal elections scheduled for June. The registration process is a crucial step toward implementing the country’s long-promised transition to a one-person, one-vote electoral model. However, Puntland and Jubbaland’s continued boycott casts a shadow over the summit, with both states rejecting the process and accusing the federal government of constitutional violations. Puntland, in particular, has launched its own electoral process outside the federal framework, signaling deepening fragmentation in Somalia’s political order.
The NCC aims to conclude with a joint communiqué outlining agreements reached between the federal government and participating member states. Observers within Somalia and abroad are closely monitoring the summit’s outcome, as its resolutions could shape the country’s fragile path toward constitutional completion, security stabilization, and democratic transition.
The international community has repeatedly urged Somali leaders to resume inclusive dialogue and reach consensus on contentious issues, warning that failure to unify could jeopardize donor support and national progress. As the NCC continues, the focus remains on whether Somalia’s leadership can bridge political divides and advance governance reforms in a way that strengthens national cohesion.