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Hassan Sheikh says Somalia in talks with Puntland, Jubbaland to ease tensions

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Wednesday September 17, 2025

FILE – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left), Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni (center), and Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe (right).Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Wednesday that negotiations are underway to resolve disputes between the federal government and the regional administrations of Puntland and Jubbaland, whose strained relations have long complicated national reforms.
In an interview with Al Arabiya television, Mohamud confirmed that multiple channels of dialogue are active, with the goal of reaching a lasting agreement. He said local council elections remain the government’s immediate priority, while national polls will follow later.
“We are still in talks with Puntland and Jubbaland, and we hope the issue with Jubbaland will be resolved before the elections. The dialogue and engagement will continue, and Puntland is aware of this,” Mohamud said.

The president’s remarks come as Somalia prepares for critical elections amid fears that divisions among federal member states could weaken the fragile democratic process.
The rupture began in March 2024, when Puntland suspended cooperation with the federal government after rejecting constitutional amendments it said undermined regional autonomy.
Tensions escalated later that year when Mogadishu released a federal map in October 2024 that labelled swathes of Puntland as disputed territory, drawing immediate protest from Garowe, which saw the move as a direct challenge to its borders and authority. Around the same time, federal officials accused Puntland of obstructing oil exploration projects, suggesting the state was acting outside the bounds of national authority. Puntland rejected the charges as political theater to curb its control over natural resources and undermine the revenue streams it viewed as essential to self-governance.
The fallout soon spread into the security sector. In early 2025, Puntland accused Mogadishu of neglecting joint counter-terrorism operations, particularly against Islamic State fighters entrenched in the Bari mountains. Federal officials said Puntland had rebuffed offers of support, while Puntland insisted Mogadishu was using security cooperation as leverage in the political dispute.
Puntland has also strongly opposed the newly declared Northeastern Somali Regional State, which was established in late July in Las Anod and claims authority over the Sool, Sanaag, and Buuhoodle regions. The state accused Mogadishu of “dividing” the nation into conflicting regional entities.”
Meanwhile, the confrontation with Jubbaland came to a head in November 2024 after Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as Madobe, secured a third term as president in regional elections. Mogadishu dismissed the vote as illegitimate, saying it was held without federal oversight, and accused Jubbaland of obstructing the constitutional order.
The dispute quickly spiralled into legal warfare. Days after the Jubbaland election, the Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu issued an arrest warrant for Madobe, charging him with treason and collusion with foreign entities. Within hours, the Jubbaland First Instance Court retaliated with its own warrant for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of inciting rebellion and undermining governance. The federal government escalated further, requesting an Interpol Red Notice for Madobe’s arrest, though Jubbaland rejected the move as politically motivated.
By early December, the dispute had spilled onto the battlefield. On December 11, clashes erupted in the southern border town of Raskamboni. Federal troops flown in from Mogadishu, backed by drones, fought pitched battles with Jubbaland forces. Jubbaland officials said their fighters repelled the assault and forced federal troops to retreat from parts of Lower Juba. Each side blamed the other for starting the fighting, but the violence marked a decisive shift from courtrooms to combat.
The Gedo region, long a strategic fault line between Mogadishu and Kismayo, once more flared into violence in July 2025 after the federal government deployed Abdirashid Janan, a former Jubbaland security minister, as the regional intelligence chief. Janan arrived by military helicopter from Mogadishu, accompanied by senior army officers and reinforcements, which residents say marked a turning point in tensions. Clashes broke out soon after his arrival, shops and schools were shuttered, and many civilians fled. Humanitarian access was severely limited as fear of further violence kept residents from returning.
The federal government has blamed Jubbaland forces for instigating a deadly attack in Beled-Hawo, pointing to violations after Janan’s deployment. Jubbaland, for its part, denies wrongdoing and portrays Janan’s return as federal overreach.
Clashes broke out soon after his arrival, shops and schools were shuttered, and many civilians fled. Humanitarian access was severely limited as fear of further violence kept residents from returning.
The interview highlighted the federal government’s attempt to align political agendas across federal member states and strengthen national cohesion. Reconciliation with Puntland and Jubbaland will be key to maintaining stability if Somalia is to transition toward broader democratic governance. A national consultation forum in June 2025 stalled when both states boycotted, a reminder of their ability to derail federal initiatives.
In recent days, some Emirati media outlets have reported that the United Arab Emirates is mediating between Mogadishu and the Jubbaland and Puntland administrations.

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