Somalia: Leaders to hold Security Conference in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The leaders of Somalia's Federal Government and the Federal Member States are set to hold a high-level forum in Mogadishu, starting on Monday, 4th December, Garowe Online reports.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo will chair the meeting that will be attended by leaders of Puntland, Southwest, Galmudug, HirShabelle, and Jubbaland as well as AMISOM chiefs and representatives from the international partners.

Federal Minister of Information Abdirahman Yarisow said the talks will focus on the key issues, including the review of the outcome of London conference on Somalia in May, Somali National Army Integration and united front against Al Shabaab.

"This December 4 meeting dubbed National Security Conference is vital for Somalia and the London conference, whereas the Federal Government and the International Community agreed on several issues regarding the situation of the country," he said.

The leaders are expected to look into what has been achieved in the past and will set up a plan to fix the existing challenges, mainly the security and the threat of Al Shabaab to the country's peace and stability.

Top Officials and military chiefs from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and foreign Ambassadors in Mogadishu will also attend the meeting, along with Somali Federal and regional leaders.

The Presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali "Gaas" and Ahmed Madobe respectively arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday ahead of the meeting. The remaining state's leaders will touch down on Sunday.

The forthcoming meeting comes weeks after the government has declared it will launch a new offensive aimed to flush out Al Shabaab, and asked neighboring countries to send additional forces to Somalia.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo returned back to Mogadishu on Saturday after attending the inauguration President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and the 5th AU-EU summit held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Last month, Somali leaders convened a consultative forum in the capital and discussed their political differences, the deadlock over national resources sharing, the review process of the provisional constitution and among others.

GAROWE ONLINE