Jubaland and Puntland leaders reject a proposed Mogadishu meeting, demanding international guarantees for any agreement on Somalia’s disputed electoral process.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — The presidents of Jubaland and Puntland states have rejected a proposal to bring them to Mogadishu for talks aimed at completing negotiations between the federal government and the opposition-aligned Somali Future Council, according to the reports.
The proposed meeting was intended to help bridge differences over Somalia’s electoral process and pave the way for a lasting political settlement between the federal government and its opponents.
The talks have reportedly been facilitated by international partners, who have played a mediating role in several rounds of discussions between the two sides.
But Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni have declined to travel to the capital, citing concerns over the absence of formal guarantees for any agreement reached on the electoral process, according to sources.
The two regional leaders are reportedly demanding that international partners sign the final agreement and that their role be explicitly included in the text of any deal.
Their position reflects wider concerns among federal government opponents over the implementation and enforcement of political agreements in Somalia, where disputes between Mogadishu and federal member states have repeatedly disrupted cooperation.
The role of international representatives in the negotiations has so far been described as one of facilitation rather than that of formal guarantors. They have helped bring the parties together and support discussions intended to resolve disagreements over the country’s broader electoral framework.
The federal government, meanwhile, reportedly believes that a formal guarantee from international actors is unnecessary and that negotiations should move forward to produce an agreement after months of political discussions.
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Some opposition figures are said to share Mogadishu’s position on the issue, while Jubaland and Puntland remain dissatisfied with the proposed structure of the agreement.
Relations between the federal government and the two regional administrations have deteriorated sharply in recent months. Jubaland and Puntland have previously cut or suspended cooperation with Mogadishu amid disputes over political authority, elections and constitutional changes.
The disagreements come as Somalia approaches a politically sensitive period, with the electoral system and amendments to the country’s provisional constitution at the centre of a broader national dispute.
The federal government has promoted changes to the electoral framework, while political opposition groups and some federal member states have questioned the process and called for broader consensus.
The disagreement over international guarantees could therefore become a significant obstacle to efforts to bring the rival political camps together.
For the proposed Mogadishu meeting to proceed, the sides may need to reach agreement not only on the electoral arrangements themselves but also on mechanisms for implementing and monitoring any eventual deal.
With the political divide deepening between Mogadishu and several regional administrations, the failure to secure participation from Jubaland and Puntland would further complicate efforts to build consensus around Somalia’s next electoral phase.
The latest developments underline the broader challenge facing Somalia’s political leadership: reaching an electoral agreement acceptable to the federal government, regional administrations and opposition groups while maintaining confidence that any agreement will be respected by all parties.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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