JOWHAR, Somalia - UN Special Envoy for Somalia, Michael Keating and Turkish Ambassador, Olgan Bekar are holding a crucial meeting with regional leaders in Jowhar town on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Somalia's Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire and members of his cabinet who are in the city for the inauguration of the new HirShabelle President were reported to be attending the closed-door meeting.

The talks aimed at ending the upward political rift between the central government and Federal states which are in deadlock over key issues, including resources sharing and constitutional review process.

This came after President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo invited leaders of the regional administrations, including the embattled Galmudug President to a consultative meeting in Mogadishu on 28th Oct.

The dispute has been mounting since Kismayo forum held early this month, where the regional leaders have issued a joint communiqué critical to the government and formed a new cooperation council.

GAROWE ONLINE