Madobe and Deni Accede to Talks in Mogadishu After Long-Running Gridlock

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Presidents of Puntland and Jubaland Federal Member States, Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) are set to attend talks in Mogadishu breaking a long running deadlock, impeccable sources have said.

According to reliable sources, the two leaders have formally confirmed their travel plans and are expected to arrive in Mogadishu on February 9, where they will participate in what officials describe as a renewed phase of dialogue aimed at resolving outstanding disputes over Somalia’s political transition.

Background to the Talks

The confirmation follows weeks of heightened political tension between the Federal Government and the administrations of Puntland and Jubaland. Relations deteriorated after disagreements over the structure and timeline of the electoral process, the mandate of federal institutions, and the legal framework guiding the transition.

In recent days, these disputes spilled into the public arena through sharply worded statements exchanged between Mogadishu and the two regional administrations, as well as incidents involving the disruption of flights carrying officials and security personnel.

Both Puntland and Jubaland accused the Federal Government of acting outside agreed frameworks, while the government maintained that its actions were necessary to safeguard national security and constitutional order.

What This Means

The decision by Deni and Madobe to attend the Consultative Forum is being interpreted by political observers as a cautious but significant step toward de-escalation. The talks are expected to focus on rebuilding trust, clarifying contested aspects of the electoral roadmap, and exploring compromises that could prevent a prolonged political standoff as the country moves deeper into the transition period.

At this stage, no official agenda or expected outcomes of the forum have been publicly released.Further details are expected once the delegations arrive in Mogadishu and the Consultative Forum formally opens.