Mogadishu (WDN)- The National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting, convened in Mogadishu on October 2, has yet to produce a resolution, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud struggles to push forward his agenda, which centers on a one-year term extension for the federal member states. This extension is highly controversial, as it aims to prevent the federal member states (FMS) from holding independent elections according to their own constitutions, thereby allowing President Hassan to consolidate political control under the federal government.

According to sources from Mogadishu, President Hassan has managed to convince the President of the South West State, Abdiaziz Laftagareen, to accept the proposed extension. In exchange, Laftagareen agreed to forgo plans for holding an independent state election in South West State.

This agreement reportedly came with several promises from President Hassan Sheikh’s administration, including:

1. Creation of a New Deputy Prime Minister Position: The South West State would be granted a new position that would be created, 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia; giving the region greater influence at the federal level.
2. Ministerial Appointments: Laftagareen would be allowed to put forward new ministers to replace current South West representatives in Hassan Sheikh’s federal cabinet. This reshuffling is aimed to entertain Laftagareen to strengthen his political hold in the federal government.
3. Financial Incentives: Laftagareen is reportedly being offered financial incentives as part of the deal, though the specifics of these incentives remain unclear

It is worth noting that while President Abdiaziz Laftagareen of South West State was persuaded by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s political and financial incentives to accept the proposed one-year term extension, the President of Jubbaland, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), has firmly refused. President Madobe has maintained his position on several key points:

1. Conducting Independent Elections: Madobe insists that Jubbaland will proceed with its regional elections without interference from Villa Somalia, the seat of the federal government in Mogadishu. He strongly opposes any federal intervention in Jubbaland’s electoral process, asserting his state’s right to hold elections in accordance with its own constitution.
2. Federal Elections and Puntland’s Absence: Madobe has also emphasized that without the participation of Puntland, one of Somalia’s key federal member states, it would be impossible to conduct a legitimate federal election. Puntland, which has boycotted the NCC meeting, remains a critical player in Somalia’s political dynamics, and Madobe’s insistence highlights the deepening divide between Villa Somalia and the member states.

Despite these challenges, President Hassan Sheikh and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre are reportedly continuing to exert pressure on Ahmed Madobe in an attempt to change his stance. However, sources indicate that Madobe is unlikely to shift his position, as he remains committed to maintaining Jubbaland’s electoral autonomy.

On the other hand, Puntland’s Vice President, Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, publicly expressed support for Ahmed Madobe’s position during a press conference held in Garowe. Lugatoor praised the Jubbaland president for defending the constitutional right of federal member states to conduct their own independent elections. He reiterated Puntland’s support for Jubbaland, emphasizing that federalism must be respected and that any interference by the federal government undermines the democratic process.

The National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu has now been delayed, with no communique issued as of yet, despite expectations that one was supposed to be released. The delay signals the deepening political tensions and the difficulty in reaching a consensus, as federal member states continue to resist President Hassan Sheikh’s agenda. The outcome of these ongoing discussions will have significant implications for Somalia’s future political landscape and the balance of power between the federal government and its member states.

WardheerNews