Baidoa(Mogadishu24)-President Abdiaziz Laftagareen of Southwest State has confirmed his participation in the upcoming National Consultation Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu, scheduled for September 25.
The decision was made following a late-night phone call between Laftagareen and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia, according to reliable sources close to both administrations.
During the phone call, the two leaders reportedly reached an agreement on Laftagareen’s attendance. Following the NCC meeting, a private session is scheduled between President Hassan Sheikh, Laftagareen, and the Speaker of the House of the People, who also hails from the South West State.
This diplomatic breakthrough was facilitated by General Mahad Abdirahman Adan, Commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, who traveled to Baidoa to mediate the discussions that led to Laftagareen’s decision.
This development comes after a week of heightened tensions between the Federal Government and Southwest State, including a standoff over the refusal to allow Federal Parliament members representing Southwest constituencies to fly to Baidoa.
The conflict has also been fueled by disputes surrounding Ethiopia and Egypt’s involvement in Somalia, as well as upcoming elections in the region. Laftagareen's participation signals a potential thaw in relations ahead of critical discussions.
The upcoming talks are expected to ease tensions between the two sides. However, it remains unclear whether the meeting will address contentious issues such as the upcoming elections and the presence of Ethiopian forces, both of which have been significant points of disagreement.