The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan, has begun a series of official visits to the country’s regional states to highlight the importance of participating in the National Consultative Council.
Ambassador Swan is expected to visit Puntland and Jubbaland this week. He is expected to arrive in Garowe on Saturday or Sunday to meet with President Deni and discuss the conference.
The UN envoy made his first trip as part of this series of visits to Galmudug on Tuesday, where he met with Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye.
He also traveled to Southwest on Wednesday, where he met with the President of Southwest, Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), and members of his administration.
His meetings in Galmudug and Southwest focused on the importance of holding a consensus-based election and holding a national dialogue that includes all political stakeholders and Somali society.
“I have emphasized the importance of unity and inclusive dialogue between the Somali political leadership and society,” said James Swan.
Swan made it clear that the international community supports the initiative called for by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to hold a national forum that unites Somali voices and confronts the threat of Al-Shabaab.
