Puntland State leader warns Somalia could fracture amid political deadlock, urges dialogue with Mogadishu
KISMAYO, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni warned Thursday that Somalia risks breaking apart if political leaders fail to listen to one another and pursue consensus, as tensions mount over governance and the path to national elections.
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Speaking at a conference in the southern port city of Kismayo, Deni said division would be inevitable if dialogue, mutual respect and coexistence continue to erode. “If we do not listen to one another, do not respect each other, and cannot live together, this has happened before,” he said. “We know the consequences — it leads to fragmentation.”
Deni emphasized that he and other attendees did not travel to Kismayo to exchange accusations with the federal government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Rather, he said, the gathering was aimed at genuine consultation and practical solutions to Somalia’s political challenges.
“The federal government that we all belong to carries a shared responsibility,” he said. “If we fulfill that responsibility, we have done our duty. If we neglect it, then we have failed in the obligation entrusted to us by our people.”
The Puntland State leader urged President Hassan Sheikh to embrace dialogue and return to negotiations, arguing that only a broad-based agreement can deliver credible, nationwide elections. “My most important appeal is to President Hassan Sheikh to accept consultation and return to the dialogue table,” Deni said. “The country should be led toward elections agreed upon by all. Nothing more is missing than that.”
Deni framed the stakes in terms of national cohesion and Somalia’s place in the region and the world. “Somalis need to live together,” he said. “Allah created us in one place so that we can coexist like other nations, live with our neighbors, and be part of the world.” He added that the country’s disputes are solvable if there is political will and a commitment to inclusive talks.
The Kismayo conference drew opposition figures, former leaders and representatives from federal member states, underscoring growing unease about Somalia’s political direction and the prospects for consensus ahead of future elections. The forum’s makeup and Deni’s appeal reflect a widening concern that the current deadlock could harden without a structured dialogue between Mogadishu and regional authorities.
Deni’s warning — delivered in one of Somalia’s major regional capitals — highlights the brittle state of trust between political actors and the urgency of a roadmap rooted in consultation. While he avoided direct confrontation with the federal government, his message was clear: Somalia’s federal project relies on leaders who share responsibility and seek compromise over unilateral moves.
As calls for negotiations intensify, the path forward hinges on whether national and regional leaders can agree on ground rules for the electoral process and governance, and on mechanisms that ensure all stakeholders are heard. For now, Deni’s remarks add to mounting pressure on Somalia’s political class to return to the table and avert a deeper crisis.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
