On Wednesday, Somalia held a national consultation conference in Mogadishu, with regional leaders, including South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, attending under the leadership of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
However, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Dani was absent due to unresolved tensions between the semiautonomous region and the federal government.
According to a statement from the Somali presidency, the conference’s primary focus is on national security, particularly strengthening efforts against the Khawarij, a term used by the Somali government to refer to armed group al-Shabaab.
Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union peacekeeping mission, frequently carrying out bombings in densely populated areas.
The leaders will also discuss completing the democratization process and implementing prior agreements made by the National Consultative Council.
Additionally, the talks will focus on enhancing governance and fostering cooperation between the federal government and regional states to promote peace and development across the country.
This conference comes ahead of the expiration of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in December.