MOGADISHU (SD) – Yesterday, a meeting of the National Consultative Council (NCC), which was supposed to bring together the leaders of the Somali Federal Government and the leaders of the federal member states, was scheduled to open in Mogadishu.

The Somali government postponed this meeting several times, initially planned for the 1st of May, until the 5th of the month. However, the opening of the meeting has been delayed once again today, with no reasons given for the postponement.

The leaders of the regional states have not yet arrived in Mogadishu, except for the Leader of the SSC-Khatumo administration. It is still unclear when the meeting will officially take place, as it was previously left in the air.

The Somali presidency has not yet issued any statement regarding this second delay or the reasons behind it. Similarly, the offices of the President and the Prime Minister have not announced the official time for the meeting to commence.

So far, the meeting will not include the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, who are in strong disagreement with the Somali Federal Government. Efforts by the international community to bring Puntland and Jubaland leaders into the discussions have so far been unsuccessful.