The National Consultative meeting in which the incumbent Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially launched yesterday has entered its second day as the meeting officially kicked-off in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. Although the meeting is at national level, it seems that the Salvation and National Rescue Council which brings together the former Somali leaders are not in attendance.
The meeting which is intended to speed up the state-building, focuses on issues including maintaining security, reviewing the transitional constitution, and the upcoming elections and beyond. The meeting was attended by famous politicians who do not hold posts in the gov’t, heads of political parties that recently registered, officials at a Federal level and members of civil society.
Officials from political parties from Puntland are also in the attendance of the meeting. The Salvation and National Rescue Council said that the dialogue is not inclusive. The disagreement of the Somali Federal Gov’t and the administrations of Puntland and Jubaland is still an obstacle to the dialogue. These two regional administrations staunchly oppose the amendment of the constitution and the upcoming elections.
The Somali Prime Minister, Hamze Abdi Barre on Tuesday has chaired the second day of the national dialogue which is currently underway in Mogadishu. He spoke the policies of the Somali Federal Gov’t particularly in the areas of unity, security, elections, constitution, state-building and the economic growth in the country. He said that Somalia is in a critical juncture where national unity and community togetherness will be necessary to overcome the political, security and economic constraints.
He said: “Somalia is at the crossroads where we will embrace multi-party politics in which all Somali citizens have the right to elect or get elected.” He reiterated the need to unite the Somali populace in order to eliminate Al-Shabab, implement elections and complete the national constitution.
He said: “The obstacles that are ahead of us are not easy. The task is not less. We are facing an enemy that poses a threat to the religion, culture, the state and our existence. We are also building a democratic state which has a complete constitution to ensure the unity of our country. Therefore, were fighting with one hand, and we are building the nation with other hand.”
