Somalia: Hiran-Middle Shabelle convention postponed

JOWHAR, Somalia- The second phase of the state formation conference which was expected to open on Saturday in Jowhar district, the regional capital of Lower Shabelle region has been postponed for another period, Garowe Online reports.

IGAD especial envoy to Somalia Mohamed Abdi Afey and the interior minister of Somalia Abdirahman Odawa have announced last week the Hiran and Middle Shabelle  inter-regional state formation conference will kick off on Saturday (3rd September), but it failed over the absence of some participants. 

GO has learnt that the postponement of the conference came after a boycott by Hiran elders who did not arrive in Jowhar over ‘broken’ promises and dispute with the federal government of Somalia. 

Ugaas Hassan Ugaas Khalif who is one of the important traditional elders is still determined to stick to his decision of division of Hiran into two regions, then get its own federal state formed.

President of the Federal Government of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with the support of IGAD is pushing the efforts to complete the process of formation of an administration for the two regions before 2016 election. 

Since January 2016, there have been delays and complexities surrounding the state's formation process, over lack of consensus, mistrust between Hiran elders and Somali federal government. The is also a rivalry among clans in the two neighbouring regions.

GAROWEONLINE