MOGADISHU, (HAN) – The high-level talks held in Kismayo between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland regional leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) ended without a concrete outcome, according to sources close to both sides.
President Mohamud’s delegation departed Kismayo after hours-long discussions with President Madobe. The Jubbaland leader personally saw off the federal delegation at the airport, signaling cordial protocol despite unresolved issues.
Insiders say the talks concluded with no tangible progress, and the political differences between Mogadishu and Kismayo remain unresolved.
A statement from Villa Somalia, notably avoiding direct mention of President Madobe’s name, said the talks achieved “progress” and that both sides agreed to continue consultations and hold future meetings to advance the dialogue process.
President Mohamud thanked the people and administration of Jubbaland for their warm reception and hospitality, emphasizing that unity and cooperation among Somalis are key to national progress, the statement read.
During the talks, President Mohamud reiterated his stance that the November 2024 Jubbaland election, in which Ahmed Madobe was re-elected as president, was invalid, urging Madobe to rejoin the National Consultative Council (NCC) meetings.
In response, President Madobe maintained that the 2024 election results were non-negotiable and called for the revocation of the arrest warrant issued against him. However, he expressed willingness to continue cooperating with the federal government in Somalia’s state-building process.
The standoff between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubbaland dates back to last year, when the regional administration announced its own electoral commission, defying Mogadishu’s push to unify national and regional elections.
The Ministry of Interior later condemned the move as an “illegal act,” asserting that Madobe’s appointment of the Jubbaland electoral body violated federal law.
Following the November 2024 election, the Somali Council of Ministers declared the Jubbaland poll — and Madobe’s re-election — unconstitutional, labeling him a “former leader.” The federal government described all related processes as “illegal and invalid.”
The Kismayo talks were widely viewed as a crucial opportunity to rebuild trust and cooperation after years of recurring political tensions and disputes between the federal government and Jubbaland.
