Somalia’s Puntland and Jubaland Leaders to Form Alliance Against Mogadishu in Nairobi Talks
High-Stakes Meeting Aims to Counter President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The presidents of Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions of Jubaland and Puntland are set to meet in Nairobi this week for crucial alliance talks. The meeting comes as both leaders seek to counter President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s growing political influence across Somalia’s federal states.
Key Players Converge in Nairobi
Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni departed Bosaso on Tuesday, traveling via Addis Ababa before his expected arrival in Nairobi. Jubaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) is already in the Kenyan capital, where he has been consulting with foreign diplomats, Kenyan officials, and Somali federal lawmakers.
Shifting Political Alliances
The Nairobi meeting represents a significant political realignment. Despite previous tensions between the two leaders during President Mohamud’s return to power in 2022, they now seek to unite against what they perceive as systematic marginalization by Villa Somalia.
Federal Challenges in Regional States
In Jubaland, the Somali Interior Ministry has reportedly initiated plans to establish a parallel administration to challenge Madobe’s leadership. Meanwhile in Puntland, the federal government is allegedly strengthening Police Chief Asad Osman Diyano’s position, leveraging his connections to the semi-autonomous Puntland Security Force (PSF).
Tensions have escalated in northern Galkayo, where competing military deployments by pro-Diyano forces and Deni-loyal troops have raised concerns about potential armed conflict.
Electoral Controversy Fuels Opposition
The opposition movement emerges as President Mohamud’s administration pushes forward with controversial one-person, one-vote elections. Many regional stakeholders argue the plan is unworkable due to persistent insecurity and Al-Shabaab’s presence across much of the country.
With less than a year remaining in Mohamud’s term, opposition groups are rapidly mobilizing against his newly-formed political alliance of regional leaders.
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