James Swan, the United Nations Special Representative to Somalia, has embarked on a series of official visits to the country’s federal states to emphasize the importance of participating in the National Consultative Council summit.
This week, Ambassador Swan is expected to visit Puntland and Jubbaland, with plans to meet President Deni in Garowe on Saturday or Sunday to discuss the summit’s significance. His visit to these states is aimed at encouraging participation in the national dialogue.
Swan’s diplomatic tour began on Tuesday with a trip to Galmudug, where he met with President Ahmed Abdi Karie. On Wednesday, he visited South West State, meeting with President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagaren) and other key figures in his administration.
In both Galmudug and South West, discussions focused on the importance of a consensual election process and the need for an inclusive national dialogue involving all political stakeholders and the Somali public.
“I’ve underscored the importance of unity and inclusive dialogue between political leaders and the Somali people,” Swan said.
The UN representative reaffirmed international support for the initiative proposed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, calling for a national platform to unite Somali voices and address the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
