Talks between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh, Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe end without agreement

Kenya’s efforts to mediate political differences between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe have stalled, after President Hassan left the southern city of Kismayo without any agreement being reached.

According to official sources, the meeting between the two leaders focused on the ongoing dispute over Jubaland’s regional leadership and the wider question of how to align Somalia’s federal and regional elections.

The main point of contention was the demand that Ahmed Madobe withdraw from the Jubaland presidential election held in Kismayo and return to an earlier agreement that unified elections between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States.

President Ahmed Madobe rejected that proposal, saying that his election could not be a subject of negotiation. He, however, expressed readiness to discuss other issues related to the national constitution, power-sharing, and the conduct of future elections.

In a statement released by Villa Somalia after the talks ended, the Presidency said that the meeting made “some progress,” and that “both sides agreed to continue consultations and to reconvene at a later date to advance the dialogue process.”

The statement added that President Hassan Sheikh thanked the Jubaland administration and the people of Kismayo for their warm reception and emphasised the importance of unity among all Somali leaders.

Kenya, which has played a key role in facilitating dialogue between Mogadishu and Kismayo, had hoped that the talks would ease tensions that have persisted since Ahmed Madobe’s reelection as Jubaland president. The two leaders have been at odds over political authority, security control, and the management of elections in Jubaland.

Sources close to the mediation say Kenya’s involvement is aimed at preventing a deeper political rift that could undermine Somalia’s federal system. The meeting in Kismayo was therefore viewed as a first step toward rebuilding trust and identifying areas for compromise.

Despite the lack of a breakthrough, both leaders publicly signalled that they were open to continued dialogue.

President Hassan Sheikh said that the door to talks remains open, expressing confidence that a lasting solution can be reached through continued engagement.

Ahmed Madobe also acknowledged the positive atmosphere during the meeting, saying that his discussions with President Hassan Sheikh were conducted in a spirit of mutual respect. He said that while no final agreement was reached, the talks marked an important step toward finding common ground for the future.

The Kismayo meeting was seen as an opportunity to restart dialogue and strengthen cooperation between the central government and the regional states. However, with no tangible progress achieved, it remains unclear when the two leaders will meet again or what the next steps in the negotiation process will be.

Officials from Kenya’s mediation team have not commented publicly on the outcome of the talks, but sources suggest that Nairobi will continue to encourage both sides to maintain communication and avoid actions that could worsen political divisions.

Both President Hassan Sheikh and Ahmed Madobe are expected to consult with their respective teams before another round of talks is scheduled.

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• Jubaland
• Jubaland State
• Jubaland elections
• Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe
• Somalia Jubaland talks
• Talks between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh
• Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe end without agreement