Somalia’s Farmaajo Meets Puntland State, Jubbaland Leaders, Urges Compromise to End Political Deadlock

Mogadishu, Somalia — Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo” met Saturday with Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madoobe” in Mogadishu, urging urgent dialogue to resolve escalating disputes over elections and constitutional reform that he warned could tip the country into a constitutional vacuum.

The talks centered on Somalia’s political trajectory and the need for an inclusive settlement amid mounting friction over proposed constitutional amendments and the framework for upcoming elections. Farmaajo framed the meeting as a chance to de-escalate and rebuild consensus among federal and regional leaders as the president’s term enters its final months.

“I welcomed the arrival of the two presidents in the capital, Mogadishu, and encouraged their efforts to reach an inclusive agreement that will save the country from uncertainty and a security crisis resulting from electoral and constitutional disputes,” Farmaajo said in a statement after the meeting. He praised the regional leaders for what he described as goodwill and a shared desire to find a durable political solution.

The former president appealed directly to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to take the lead in narrowing differences. “To avoid missing this opportunity for dialogue, I call on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to demonstrate compromise and leadership capable of overcoming the current impasse and preventing a constitutional vacuum,” he said.

Farmaajo also urged political actors not to allow the political dispute to overshadow urgent humanitarian needs, noting that millions of Somalis continue to suffer from prolonged drought.

Why it matters

• Somalia faces intensifying political tension as the presidential term nears its final stretch, raising the stakes for an agreed electoral roadmap.
• Disagreements over constitutional amendments and election design have deepened rifts between the federal government, opposition leaders and some federal member states, including Puntland State and Jubbaland.
• Leaders and stakeholders warn that failure to bridge differences risks a governance gap and renewed security strain.

The meeting in Mogadishu comes as the Somali Future Council and the federal government prepare for expected high-level talks on elections and constitutional issues following President Hassan Sheikh’s return from the African Union summit. Participants on Saturday cast their engagement as part of a broader push to build common ground before the window for a negotiated outcome narrows further.

While no detailed framework emerged publicly from the Mogadishu discussions, the emphasis on inclusivity pointed to the central fault line underlying the crisis: how to reconcile competing demands from federal authorities, opposition figures and federal member states over the pace and scope of constitutional reform and the mechanics of balloting.

Advocates of a rapid settlement argue that clarity on the rules of the game is essential to avoid paralysis and instability. Critics of unilateral moves warn that rushing changes without buy-in from key political actors could deepen fragmentation. Farmaajo’s intervention on Saturday sought to channel that debate back into face-to-face negotiations under a spirit of compromise.

What’s next

• Stakeholders anticipate high-level talks on the electoral and constitutional track after the president’s return from the AU summit.
• Regional leaders have signaled openness to continued engagement, with Saturday’s meeting described as a step toward an inclusive agreement.
• Humanitarian pressures from prolonged drought remain acute, adding urgency for a political timetable that avoids disruption to aid and security coordination.

With the timeline tightening, Saturday’s Mogadishu meeting underscored the immediate test for Somali leaders: convert calls for dialogue into a workable roadmap that addresses constitutional questions, election sequencing and power-sharing—while ensuring that governance continues uninterrupted and the country’s humanitarian response is not derailed.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.