NCC meeting kicks off in Mogadishu as Somalia on the brink of famine

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Consultative Council [NCC], Somalia's highest decision-making body held the first session on Sunday, a meeting which comes amid heightened Al-Shabaab activities in the country and tensions between federal states and the central administration.

Most state leaders among them Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe [Jubaland], Abdiaziz Lafta-Gareen [Southwest], Ali Gudlawe [HirShabelle], and Galmadug's Ahmed Qoorqoor were in the capital Mogadishu as early as on Saturday, a signal of commitment to solve the existing standoff.

Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni will participate via videoconference, but it's not clear why he didn't make it from Garowe, the regional administrative capital. Other members of NCC include President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Mayor of Mogadishu.

This is the first time President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is chairing the council since his victory in May. The president is expected to face tough moments especially in solving the standoff between the Federal states' finance department and that of his central government.

A few weeks ago, the federal states accused Mogadishu of violating existing agreements on sharing of financial aid, arguing that the federal government was embracing a skewed method contrary to the law. This comes after the central administration sent an insignificant fraction of the $100 million donated by the international community.

The security sector is also facing enormous challenges after Al-Shabaab militants renowned high scale attacks within the country, targeting mostly innocent civilians. Last week, the militants attacks food trucks in the Hiiraan region, killing at least 22 locals.

Before this incident, the Al-Shabaab militants attacked Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu where they also killed 22 people, in one of the worst sieges thus year within the country. Security forces and regional militia have been tackling the militants for weeks across the country.

Villa Somalia says the meeting will last for two days after which President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to neighboring Kenya for the inauguration of President-elect William Ruto. It's the second time he will be visiting the country after his victory in May.

Kenya's outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta was in Mogadishu for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's inauguration mid-this year. During the inauguration, the Somali president insisted that he will foster a good relationship with federal member states which was troubled during Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's reign.

GAROWE ONLINE