Somalia: Leaders of Somali government, regional administrations to hold meeting in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Leaders of Somalia’s Federal government and Federal member states are set to hold two-day meetings in the capital Mogadishu starting on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

The regional leaders arrived in Mogadishu to participate the high-level forum that will focus on the formation of a National Security Council, the fight against al-Shabaab group, and the Gulf crisis.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo will chair the talks that will be attended by the leaders of Puntland, Jubaland, Southwest, Galmudug and Hirshabelle states. Somali army chiefs, Ministers of Security and Defense will also attend the meetings according to sources at Villa Somalia.

Topping the agenda of the forum is national security, but other pressing issues such as Somalia’s stand in the deepening diplomatic row among the Gulf States is expected to be discussed.

Somalia’s Minister of Information Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarisow said the integration of the regional forces, the stabilization mission in Mogadishu and the outcome of the London conference will dominate the talks.

Following the talks, the leaders will jointly release a communiqué, agreeing to the formation of four divisions of the security structure namely, the Intelligence services, police forces, armed forces and custodial forces.

This meeting will be the second between President Farmajo and regional leaders since his election in last February.

GAROWEONLINE