MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed talks with Puntland and Jubbaland amid rising tensions before upcoming elections.
President Mohamud said dialogue is key to resolving disputes and preventing instability in Somalia’s fragile political environment, according to Al Arabiya.
Experts say the talks could restore trust between federal and regional leaders, helping avoid violent conflict across Somalia’s divided regions.
Tensions rose after constitutional changes Puntland says undermine its regional autonomy and Somalia’s federalism, causing Puntland to suspend cooperation.
In October, the federal government released a disputed national map, angering Puntland and escalating territorial sovereignty conflicts.
Puntland also accused Mogadishu of exploiting oil resources without consent, worsening already tense relations between the regions.
Last month, Mogadishu created a new regional state covering contested Sool and Sanaag regions, further escalating tensions.
Security expert Abdullahi Yusuf warned this risks fragmenting Somalia’s fragile federal system and worsening regional conflicts.
Jubbaland severed ties with the federal government after rejecting President Madobe’s indirect re-election last November.
A court in Mogadishu issued a treason warrant for Madobe; Jubbaland retaliated with an arrest warrant for Mohamud.
December 2024 clashes in Raaskambooni involved federal troops in Jubbaland territory, further escalating the conflict.
July 2025 fighting erupted after Mogadishu appointed a new intelligence chief, causing violence and displacement in Gedo region.
Analysts warn the conflict threatens elections, political stability, and worsens humanitarian conditions amid weak governance.
President Mohamud’s talks offer cautious hope, but divisions and territorial disputes remain major obstacles to peace.