Somali president consults Cabinet after aircraft carrying leaders’ guards turned back
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has launched closed-door consultations with his Cabinet after aircraft carrying advance security personnel for the presidents of Puntland State and Jubaland were denied clearance to land in Mogadishu, a move that has intensified strains with the federal member states.
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Government officials said the talks are focused on the political, security and governance implications of the decision and are aimed at producing a unified federal response. The meeting comes amid escalating tensions between Mogadishu and the two regions over authority, security arrangements and trust, as negotiations over elections and constitutional reforms remain fragile.
The aircraft were transporting security teams for Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who had been expected to travel to the capital for broader political consultations. Both Puntland State and Jubaland accused the federal government of acting irresponsibly and endangering lives. The government has not publicly addressed those allegations.
Separately, the Somali Future Council, a political forum involved in the consultative process, is holding its own meetings on the incident and is expected to issue a statement in the coming hours outlining its position and recommendations.
The episode underscores the fragility of relations between Somalia’s central authorities and federal member states — relationships that are critical to securing consensus on security cooperation, managing airspace and movement of officials, and sustaining a pathway to credible political dialogue.
- What happened: Aircraft carrying advance security teams for the Puntland State and Jubaland leaders were denied landing clearance in Mogadishu.
- Who is involved: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Cabinet; Puntland State’s Said Abdullahi Deni; Jubaland’s Ahmed Madobe; and the Somali Future Council.
- What’s at stake: Intergovernmental trust, security coordination and momentum on talks over elections and constitutional reforms.
Officials say Cabinet deliberations are weighing how the decision to turn back the aircraft will affect near-term security planning and longer-running political engagement with federal member states. The priority, according to those officials, is to formulate a coherent position that can be communicated to regional stakeholders and the public.
Leaders in Puntland State and Jubaland have framed the incident as a breach of protocol and a threat to their personnel. That rhetoric has added to a climate of mistrust at a sensitive moment for Somalia’s federal project, where coordination between Mogadishu and the regions remains central to combating insecurity and advancing governance reforms.
The Somali Future Council’s pending statement could help shape the next steps, including whether an independent review of the decision is warranted or if an ad hoc mechanism is needed to prevent similar confrontations over airspace permissions and security movements. The forum has been engaged in the broader consultative process and could offer a pathway to de-escalation if its recommendations garner support across the political spectrum.
For now, attention is fixed on Villa Somalia, where the president’s inner circle is moving to contain the fallout while signaling a willingness to keep channels open for political dialogue. Any federal response that emerges will be closely watched by Puntland State, Jubaland and other member states for indications of how Mogadishu intends to balance security prerogatives with the imperative of intergovernmental cooperation.
A public statement from the federal government would likely address the operational rationale behind the landing decision, outline steps to safeguard future travel by regional delegations and clarify protocols to maintain security without undermining political engagement. Until then, the incident stands as a test of Somalia’s ability to manage disputes within its federal framework while sustaining momentum toward political compromise.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
