MOGADISHU, Somalia — The presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland met with former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo in Mogadishu on Saturday, amid a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at breaking the country’s political deadlock.
Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and Ahmed Mohamed Islam, better known as “Madobe,” of Jubbaland received Farmaajo for what aides described as an “information-sharing and consultative” session regarding the nation’s deteriorating political climate.
Sources close to the talks told Shabelle Media Network that the discussions focused on building a unified political front and finding a resolution to persistent grievances between the federal government and regional states.
The high-profile meeting is seen as a precursor to a broader national consultative summit recently called by the federal government. That summit aims to tackle several contentious issues, most notably the framework for upcoming elections and proposed unilateral amendments to the national constitution.
The gathering of these heavyweights comes at a time of heightened political friction. Both Puntland and Jubbaland have been vocal critics of the current administration’s approach to federalism, frequently calling for a more inclusive dialogue to prevent further fragmentation of the state.
The presence of Farmaajo, who maintains a significant support base, underscores the urgency for a broad-based consensus before the government moves forward with its reform agenda.
