International pressure to urge regional states to attend the National Advisory Council meeting

International pressure to urge regional states to attend the National Advisory Council meeting

The National Consultative Council meeting is scheduled to begin in the capital, Mogadishu, on May 5, 2025, amid a charged political atmosphere and escalating disagreements over constitutional reforms and electoral entitlements.

Despite the importance of the conference, the states of Puntland and Jubaland are expected to continue their absence, a move that would deepen political divisions and hinder efforts to reach a national consensus.

In a remarkable development, the President of Khatama State, Abdulkadir Ahmed (Verdi), arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday, to participate for the first time in the work of the Council, in an indication of a trend towards integrating new regions into the political process.

For its part, the international community is intensifying its efforts to support the political process, as it continues its calls for all member states of the federal system to participate in the conference and work to overcome differences.

In this context, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Somalia, James Swan, conducted a field tour that included the cities of Dosmarib, Baidoa, and Bosaso, during which he met with state leaders, to listen to their opinions on security issues and electoral files.