A “promising” conference for the leaders of Somali .. and Mogadishu asks to drop its debts

The Somali Consultative Conference, between President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and leaders of the federal government, heads of states, concluded its work in the capital Mogadishu, amid optimism that the latest consensus between them on combating terrorism will be reflected in the files of the stifled economy and state elections.

A Somali political researcher enumerates to “Sky News Arabia” several reasons for optimism about an economic breakthrough, including consensus between officials, willingness to explore for oil and gas, and concluding an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

The conference, which was held Thursday and Friday, was attended by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Berri, his deputy, Saleh Ahmed Jama, the heads of the states of Puntland Said Abdullah Deni, Jubaland Ahmed Madobe, Southwest Abdelaziz Liftagren, Galmudug Ahmed Goor, Hirshabele Ali Godlawi, and the Governor of Banadir Province. Youssef Hussein Jamali.

The consultative conference is held annually between the leaders of the federal government and the heads of states, but it can meet twice or three times a year as the situation requires, and this year it met several times, including in January, August and September; To discuss the files of elections, terrorism and drought.

panoramic view

In the words of the Somali political researcher, Numan Hassan, the meeting comes this time “in light of a military campaign and an unprecedented popular uprising against the terrorist Al-Shabaab movement.”

The Somali researcher says that although this meeting is the fourth since the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last May, this time the focus has been on the war on terrorism; Take advantage of the recent consensus between the leaders.

In addition to terrorism, the conference dealt with files affected by terrorist activity, including raids, looting and looting, including the humanitarian situation in light of a severe drought crisis that hits the country as a result of lack of rain. It also discussed the completion of the National Security Framework Agreement, according to Hassan.

The conference aims to coordinate between the federal and state governments on the one hand, and between the states and some of them on the one hand, to reach a comprehensive vision of cooperation, settle differences over the sharing of international aid and natural resources, and restore national reconciliation.

Hassan expects that the issue of electing state governors may be resolved, in light of the consensus that the government is currently achieving on important files.

According to local media, there is a tendency to unify the date of the five state elections to take place at the end of 2025.

Reforms and economic breakthrough

Consensus on political and security files among officials may lead to a long-awaited breakthrough regarding the economy, whose solutions to its crises were disrupted as a result of political conflicts and the division of positions on combating terrorism in the past, as the Somali researcher explains.

The consultative meeting coincides with the country’s readiness to start exploration for oil and gas in 7 regions, after the Somali President agreed that the Coast Line Exploration Company would continue its exploration plans.

Hassan also points out that there are understandings with the International Monetary Fund to lend Somalia nearly 10 million dollars, and at the same time, one of the most important files that currently concern the government is the debt waiver.

Somali request from the Arab summit

In the debt file as well, the Somali Finance Minister, Elmi Mahmoud Nour, demanded, on the sidelines of the Economic and Social Council meeting, which was held, Friday, in Algeria to prepare for the upcoming Arab summit, the Arab countries to exempt Somalia from the debts accumulated by it.

Nour attributed this to his country’s catastrophic crises, especially drought and food shortages, in addition to the costs of the war it is waging against the terrorist Al-Shabaab movement, which is consuming the state’s resources, according to local news websites.