Baidoa, (SONNA) — The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accompanied by the Interim Leader of South West State of Somalia, held a meeting with the senior traditional elders of the regional state.
The discussions focused on strengthening peace and social cohesion, accelerating Somalia’s democratization process, reinforcing state institutions in South West, addressing the ongoing drought crisis, and enhancing the role of traditional elders in state-building and the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists.
President Hassan Sheikh emphasized the importance of active engagement by traditional leaders in advancing Somalia’s transition toward one-person, one-vote elections. He noted that such participation is key to enabling Somali citizens to directly elect their leaders. The President also commended the elders for their longstanding role in preserving unity, resolving conflicts, and supporting national governance efforts.
In response, the traditional elders expressed appreciation for the President’s visit during this critical transitional period. They voiced strong support for the Federal Government’s plan to implement universal suffrage elections and reaffirmed their commitment to mobilizing communities and contributing to efforts aimed at returning political power to the Somali people.
