Somali Central Regions Hold Administrative Conference in Nairobi

A conference on the formation of an administrative region for Somalia’s central regions opened in Nairobi Wednesday (October 23rd) with representatives from Galgadud, Galmadug, and Himan and Heeb attending, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported.

Somali lawmakers and representatives from the international community also attended the conference, which was opened by Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur who said the conference was a follow up to a previous one held in Mogadishu.

Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ) militia, which fought al-Shabaab in the central regions, declined to attend the conference and called on participants to withdraw, Somalia’s RBC Radio reported.

“This conference is pushed by the interior ministry of the federal government of Somalia,” said ASWJ Executive Council Chairperson Sheikh Ali Ashari. “We will not recognise any outcome of this conference. The [interior] minister is dividing the legal administration in Somalia.”