Wednesday October 2, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) – A delegation led by Southwest regional state leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday to attend the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting.
Federal lawmakers, ministers, and other political figures warmly welcomed the delegation at Aden Adde International Airport. They were escorted to their accommodations in the capital for their stay.
Photos shared on social media showed a significant military presence travelling with the delegation, reflecting tightened security measures following the resolution of recent political disputes between the Southwest state and the federal government.
Last month, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Laftagareen discussed the planned withdrawal of Ethiopian troops by the end of 2024. A few days later, protests supporting Ethiopian troops erupted in Southwest State's Bakool region.
The conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia has escalated in recent months due to Ethiopia's controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland's Red Sea coastline, a move condemned by Somalia.
The Somali government plans to exclude Ethiopian troops from the forthcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in 2025.
The National Consultative Council meeting, set to begin in the coming days, will address sensitive issues, including federal and state-level elections, and is expected to shape the political landscape ahead of future elections in Somalia.