Kenya, 2 October 2025 – The Presidents of Somalia’s Jubaland and Puntland states met in Nairobi on Thursday with opposition leaders to discuss the country’s political future, announcing plans to create a new “Council for Somalia’s Future.”
The talks were attended by Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe,” Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, and members of the opposition coalition known as the National Salvation Forum, including former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Abdi Farah Shirdon, as well as MP Abdirahman Abdishakur.
In a joint communiqué the leaders said the new council would unite regional administrations and opposition groups to guide Somalia through its next phase of governance.
“We have agreed to establish a Council for Somalia’s Future, uniting the National Salvation Forum with Jubaland and Puntland administrations,” the statement read.
They also pledged to hold a national conference inside Somalia to agree on a framework for the transition and to finalize the council’s structure in upcoming meetings.
The statement emphasized the need to preserve national unity and prevent further political fragmentation, while also acknowledging Kenya’s role in supporting Somalia’s peace and development.
The Nairobi meeting underscores the widening rift between the federal government in Mogadishu and powerful political rivals. It comes amid reports that President Hassan