Somalia maintains direct talks with North Western State of Somalia as political settlement push continues

Somalia says it maintains direct contacts with North Western State of Somalia, seeks political solution amid rising Horn of Africa stakes

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s government is engaging in direct and regular contact with authorities in North Western State of Somalia and pursuing a negotiated political settlement, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad said in an interview published Saturday.

Speaking to Doha News, Balcad reaffirmed the federal government’s position that North Western State of Somalia remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and said Mogadishu is committed to “a political process that unites the views of the Somali people wherever they are.” He described current interactions between Mogadishu and Hargeisa as “direct” and grounded in “understanding and cooperation.”

“We hope that we will reach an agreement and that a political solution will be found soon,” Balcad said, emphasizing that the federal government is ready for any dialogue that advances peace and national unity.

The minister’s remarks underscore a renewed push for engagement at a time when the Horn of Africa’s maritime corridors have taken on heightened strategic significance. Balcad highlighted the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as critical arteries in global shipping connecting to the Suez Canal, and said Somalia’s coastline and geography place the country at the center of regional trade and security dynamics.

He warned that political and security shifts around those sea lanes continue to ripple across international commerce and stability. Somalia’s position along the western edge of the Indian Ocean, fronting the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea approaches, has long made it a pivotal link in trade routes between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Balcad framed the outreach to North Western State of Somalia—administratively based in Hargeisa—as part of a broader diplomatic track aimed at consolidating stability at home while protecting Somalia’s maritime interests. He did not provide a timetable for talks or detail specific mechanisms under discussion, but repeated the government’s readiness to engage in any forum that could move the sides toward a durable accord.

The minister’s comments followed a period of intensified attention to the Red Sea–Suez corridor, where disruptions have periodically underscored the vulnerability of global supply chains. Balcad noted that the importance of the region has grown considerably alongside the Suez Canal’s role as a principal conduit for international trade.

The federal government’s emphasis on direct contact and a peaceful process comes as Somalia seeks to project an image of steady statecraft, focused on consensus-building and the country’s long-term strategic interests. By tying domestic dialogue to maritime security and trade, Balcad signaled that Somalia sees a political settlement as inseparable from its broader regional footing.

He characterized the federal approach as inclusive and incremental, centered on dialogue, confidence-building and practical cooperation. “We are working closely,” he said of ties with Hargeisa, adding that the channels remain open and active.

No immediate comment from North Western State of Somalia authorities was available regarding Balcad’s remarks. However, the minister’s public overture suggests Mogadishu believes there is room—through sustained talks and direct engagement—to narrow differences and, over time, reach a political understanding that supports peace, unity and the stability of key trade routes spanning the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.