Top Somali leaders gather in Mogadishu for key talks

The meeting discusses how to strengthen cooperation between Villa Somalia and the regional states and join hands in the fight against Al-Shabaab as well as deal with the drought.

News Keydmedia Online
27 October 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A consultative high-level forum between the central government and the five regional states in the country kicked off in Villa Somalia on Thursday, October 27.

President Hassan Sheikh opened the conference which brought together the Prime Minister, Mogadishu mayor, and the regional leaders who are part of the talks at the national level.

The meeting discusses how to strengthen cooperation between Villa Somalia and the regional states and join hands in the fight against Al-Shabaab as well as deal with the drought.

It's the second meeting among the political elite in Somalia since Hassan Sheikh came to power in May 2022. The relationship between Villa Somalia and regional states is coming to normal.

The talks come days after the country's President signed an oil contract for 7 offshore blocks for a U.S. company - Coastline Exploration Ltd which paid now $7 million signature bonus.

The company said it invested $50 million in Somalia for oil exploration activities since 2018. The cash ended up in the pockets of the officials in the office, who used it for personal interest.

Sources tell Keydmedia English that the share of the money is part of the agenda of the ongoing meeting as both sides are in a resource-sharing agreement reached in Baidoa in 2018.

KEYDMEDIA English