The National Consultative Council between the leaders in Somalia at federal and state levels has kicked off in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Monday.
The state leaders of Hirshabelle, Southwest, Galmudug and Jubaland arrived in the city to attend the meeting which will be held at the request of Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
The meeting comes less that a week after clashes broke out in the southern Somali town of Baidoa between rival forces allied with the federal government and Southwest State, leaving more than 10 people dead.
According to reliable sources President Hassan Sheikh wants to end the long-standing tensions between the federal government and regional states.
Efforts by the state presidents to consolidate their grip on power and mandate extensions are some of the grim challenges facing Mohamud, who was elected in May.
The leaders are expected to discuss issues such as security, the war against the Al-Shabaab group in some regions of the country, the relief of the drought in the country and the distribution of the country’s resources.
