Kismayo, Somalia – Jubaland regional President Ahmed Madobe, announced Tuesday that his administration will host a national peace and reconciliation conference in the southern port city of Kismayo, inviting all Somali stakeholders to participate.
Speaking at a press briefing, Madobe said the initiative is a Somali-led effort aimed at bridging divisions and fostering unity among political actors and regional administrations. He criticized the Federal Government of Somalia, accusing it of failing to unify the country, and noted that a similar reconciliation initiative proposed by Puntland has yet to materialize.
“This is a Somali-owned conference,” Madobe said. “The federal government has failed to bring Somalis together, and Puntland’s call for dialogue remains unfulfilled. We are now taking the lead for the sake of national interest.”
The Jubaland leader also took a swipe at the National Consultative Council (NCC), saying it has become defunct and accusing it of transforming into what he called a “revolutionary party platform” with no tangible authority or presence across the country.
“There is no such thing as a national consultative forum anymore,” he said. “It has turned into a political entity with no mandate.”
Ahmed Madobe has been at odds with Villa Somalia — the seat of the federal presidency — since his controversial re-election, which deepened tensions between regional states and the central government.
The upcoming Kismayo conference is expected to test the political climate in Somalia, as efforts to restore dialogue and reconciliation remain elusive amid growing polarization.
