Sunday October 5, 2025
Somaliland and Puntland officials pose for a group photo after concluding two days of talks in Nairobi, Kenya, on Oct. 5, 2025. The meeting, described as historic, produced a joint accord to enhance cooperation on security, reconciliation, and cross-border trade following years of political tension and sporadic clashes between the two sides.
NAIROBI, Kenya (HOL) — After Oct. 4–5 face-to-face talks, their first in years, Somaliland and Puntland signed a joint security and cooperation accord in Nairobi, pledging to coordinate against al-Shabab, back reconciliation in Erigavo and ease cross-border trade.
The two-day meeting, held on Oct. 4–5, brought together ministers and senior security officials from both sides. A joint communiqué described the talks as “historic,” saying they fostered “a new atmosphere of trust and mutual confidence.”
Under the agreement, both sides committed to jointly combating terrorism and cross-border militancy, including operations against al-Shabab and the Islamic State group. They pledged to share intelligence and coordinate border patrols to prevent infiltration by armed groups.
The communiqué said the two sides will also cooperate in maritime security, targeting piracy and illicit trafficking, and work to dismantle organized crime networks undermining peace and trade in the Horn of Africa.
Delegates emphasized the urgency of ending clashes in Ergivao and the surrounding districts. The communiqué praised the Somaliland president’s peace initiative and called on local residents to take part in reconciliation efforts. It also commended Puntland’s active role in supporting dialogue, describing joint engagement as critical to lasting peace.
Somaliland and Puntland recognized the importance of strengthening the movement of people and goods and agreed to develop shared economic infrastructure linking their territories. Officials said improved connectivity would expand trade, spur investment, and boost livelihoods across the border region.
The meeting condemned Somalia’s
unilateral management of civilian airspace and opposed overreach in exercising control. Delegates called for civil aviation to be
administered in accordance with international laws and agreements, ensuring fairness and transparency in air traffic operations.
The Nairobi talks between Somaliland and Puntland follow renewed regional diplomacy following a series of
high-profile political meetings in Kenya this week. The presidents of Jubaland and Puntland joined former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khayre and Saacid Shirdoon, as well as MP Abdirahman Abdishakur, to launch the Somali Future Council, a new platform uniting the
Somali Salvation Forum with the two federal-member-state governments. The leaders said the body would coordinate positions on Somalia’s political transition and pledged to hold a follow-up conference inside Somalia to finalize its structure and mandate.
The move drew swift criticism from Mogadishu. On Friday, Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi
condemned the Nairobi gathering as advancing
“outside interests rather than the Somali people’s.” Writing on his official Facebook page, Fiqi insisted Somalia’s future must be decided within the country, not abroad, and warned that those “opposed to the establishment of Somali statehood” could not determine the nation’s path.
The dueling Nairobi and Mogadishu tracks unfolded as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
travelled to Kismayo for talks with Jubbaland officials to end the prolonged political impasse and advance preparations for upcoming elections.
They welcomed the role of the international community in supporting peacebuilding and counterterrorism, and called for results-oriented partnerships that deliver tangible outcomes for regional stability and development.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to maintain continuous dialogue through regular meetings and joint mechanisms addressing shared interests.