Wednesday December 30, 2020
GAROWE (HOL) - Senior politicians and government officials are converging in Garowe for the annual HIPS forum for ideas.
The event organized by Mogadishu based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS) brings together opinion leaders across various sectors of the country.
Former presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed are leading a team of opposition politicians.
Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid is among senior government officials among them speakers of both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament.
The forum which is being held in Garowe Puntland kicks off today for three days. It will be deliberating the country’s development process in the next five years.
The meeting comes at a time the country is undergoing a political and constitutional crisis amid tussles between the Federal Government and opposition groups.
Puntland which is hosting the event, alongside Jubbaland have both declined to form state level elections committees following disputes with the federal government.
The Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) announced Tuesday a delay of Senate elections after it failed to meet the December 30 deadline for the start of voting. The process will now commence on January 7 through to 14.