Monday, June 23, 2026 – HAN
Garowe: Jubaland regional President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, arrived on Sunday in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland State.
President Madobe was warmly received at Garowe Airport by Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni. His visit comes at a time of heightened political tension between regional states and the Federal Government of Somalia, particularly surrounding electoral processes and governance issues.
According to sources, the two leaders are set to hold a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening ties between their administrations. The talks are expected to result in the formation of a political alliance and greater collaboration on Somalia’s contentious election disputes and ongoing security challenges.
A key goal of the meeting is to restore political trust and address the deepening rifts within the federal system. Both leaders are outspoken proponents of a decentralized federal model, advocating for stronger autonomy and a more inclusive decision-making process that involves regional administrations.
Their potential alliance is viewed as a strategic effort to exert political pressure on Villa Somalia, the seat of the federal presidency, and to challenge what they see as unilateral decision-making by the central government. Madobe and Deni have been consistent critics of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, accusing it of sidelining regional voices on major national issues.
As Somalia’s political dynamics continue to shift, the outcome of the Garowe meeting could significantly influence inter-regional cooperation and the broader direction of federalism in the country.
