MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Kismayo on Friday for talks with Jubbaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), a visit shrouded in uncertainty given the history of sharp disputes between the two leaders, disputes that previously escalated into deadly clashes.
According to reports posted by journalist Abdiaziz Golafyare’s Facebook page, the planned visit comes under both domestic and international pressure. Sources indicate that even senior allies close to both sides remain unaware of the meeting’s agenda, with suggestions that President Mohamud unilaterally decided to open direct negotiations with Madobe after weeks of behind-the-scenes contacts.
Foreign actors are also said to be playing a role in mediating the process, with efforts stretching from Abu Dhabi to Nairobi and Addis Ababa. A recent phone conversation between the two leaders, reportedly facilitated by Kenya’s intelligence chief Nooradin Haji, helped pave the way for dialogue. Furthermore, a side meeting in Addis Ababa between President Mohamud, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is believed to have influenced the decision for a direct encounter in Kismayo, rather than in a foreign capital.
An advance delegation from President Mohamud is expected to arrive in Kismayo ahead of his visit. Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe, currently in Nairobi, is also due to return to Kismayo on Friday, where preparations are already underway for the high-profile meeting.
Insiders suggest that President Mohamud aims to achieve two main objectives: first, to demonstrate to the international community that he is seeking dialogue rather than confrontation, and second, to leave open the option of pursuing alternative measures against Madobe if the Kismayo talks collapse.
For his part, President Madobe faces a difficult choice—either risk alienating key allies such as Puntland and opposition groups in Mogadishu by compromising, or accept Mohamud’s demands, including a return to the National Consultative Council and honoring previous agreements.
The outcome of the Kismayo visit is widely seen as pivotal, with political observers closely watching whether it will mark the beginning of reconciliation or deepen Somalia’s ongoing political rifts.
