Monday October 6, 2025
Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe” greets Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubaland has commended Kenya for its role in facilitating two-day talks aimed at mending strained ties with Somalia’s federal government, following a
rare high-level meeting between President Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe” and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Kismayo.
The meeting, held in Kismayo from October 4–6, marked a critical step in Nairobi’s initiative
launched in August 2025 to stabilize Somalia’s southern regions following escalating clashes along the Raskamboni and Beled Hawo border zones. Kenyan officials, alarmed by fighting spilling into nearby border towns, began quietly urging both sides to resume direct communication.
Although the meeting concluded
without a formal agreement, both sides pledged to continue dialogue. It was the first face-to-face encounter between Hassan Sheikh and Madobe since tensions flared nearly a year ago.
In a statement issued Monday, the Jubaland presidency included special thanks to the Government of Kenya “its ongoing efforts to help end existing differences and contribute to resolving Somalia’s political disputes.” However, it notably refrained from naming President Hassan Sheikh, a gesture which may reflect cautious diplomacy or lingering mistrust between the two sides.
Jubaland said the talks illustrated the regional state’s commitment to
resolving disputes through dialogue and compromise. It said that unity “around the major national priorities that face our country.”
“Both sides agreed that the talks will continue and that additional meetings will be convened to achieve a durable and comprehensive solution,” the statement added.
Madobe also praised the people of Jubaland for their patience and unity, describing their resolve as essential to safeguarding the region’s principles and identity during a period of heightened political tension.
President Hassan Sheikh, for his part, described the meeting as an opportunity to rebuild confidence between Mogadishu and Kismayo.
Nairobi’s intervention builds on earlier mediation efforts dating back to November 2024, when a Kenyan delegation visited Kismayo in an attempt to ease rising tensions after the disputed regional elections.
Relations between Mogadishu and Kismayo have been fraught since 2019, but deteriorated rapidly in November 2024, when the federal government declared Jubaland’s regional elections invalid. That dispute triggered armed clashes, reciprocal legal actions and accusations of constitutional breaches, deepening rifts over federalism and local autonomy.