Monday September 12, 2022
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concluded the two-day National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu on Monday, which was attended by the country's five regional state leaders and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
The Federal and Federal Member state leaders discussed security issues, strengthening operations to eliminate terrorist groups and assisting people affected by the country's drought.
The Council called on the government to accelerate to response to the drought and called on friends of Somalia to double their support for drought relief.
Last week, the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has warned that parts of Somalia are on the brink of famine after being hit by four failed rainy seasons that have caused a devastating drought.
He said that "famine was at the door" and was likely to occur in south-central Somalia between October and December this year.
During the meeting, the leaders commanded the security operations against al-Shabaab, which are taking place in several parts of Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest.
They urged elders, scholars, businessmen, youth, and women to take a serious stand in the fight against al-Shabaab, which is being led by government forces.
The Federal and Federal Member state leaders agreed to expedite talks between Somalia and Somaliland and to strengthen cooperation between government agencies at both levels to ensure people's trust in the government and to work for political stability.