Friday December 19, 2025
Kismayo (HOL) - Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni has called on Somalia’s federal leadership and political actors to heed the advice and warnings of Somali intellectuals, warning that failure to do so could lead to political chaos and threaten the country’s unity.
Speaking at the Somali Future Council conference, which opened in Kismayo on Thursday afternoon, President Deni said repeated warnings about Somalia’s political direction since 2023 have largely been ignored.
He stressed the need for a political solution grounded in consultation, consensus, and genuine dialogue, describing it as the only way to safeguard the country’s future.
President Deni specifically urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to engage in an inclusive national dialogue to address what he described as “fateful issues” facing the country, particularly the electoral process and the completion of the constitution.
“We urge President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to listen to advice and return to the dialogue table,” he said.
“So that the country can have an election that is mutually agreed upon.”
He emphasized that the proposed dialogue is intended to protect the future of Somalia, adding that Puntland is fully prepared to participate in any effort aimed at correcting the country’s political course.
Deni reiterated that Puntland stands ready to play a constructive role in rebuilding the Somali state and again called on the federal government to listen to opposition voices.
“If we do not listen to each other and do not respect one another, nothing good will come from it,” he said.
“The president and the federal government must allow Somalis to reach a shared view on an election based on agreement.”
The Somali Future Council conference has brought together a broad array of senior political figures, including Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Ministers Mohamed Hussein Rooble, Hassan Ali Khayre, and Abdi Farah Shirdoon (Saacid), as well as former minister Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, former Puntland President Abdirahman Farole, and other political leaders.