Kismayo, 6 October 2025 – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday visited the interim capital of Jubaland, where he was welcomed by Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam ‘Madobe’.
Although their statements indicated that neither side had yet deviated from their previous positions, it was clear that both leaders were open to dialogue.
What issues were likely discussed in their meeting which are key to bringing down the current political temperatures between Jubaland and Mogadishu?
Rejoining the National Consultative Forum: Naturally, President Hassan Sheikh is likely to propose that Ahmed Madobe returns to the National Consultative Forum and reverses his hard stance on the 2024 presidential election.
Acceptance of the election outcome:
President Ahmed Madobe will likely push for the recognition of his election victory by the federal government, a heavy demand that could reignite political tensions. It’s unlikely that Hassan will accept this.
What could both sides agree on?
Golden handshake: A mutual agreement to return to the National Consultative Forum, despite Ahmed Madobe's absence for nearly a year, without Hassan Sheikh taking drastic action against him.
Temporary recognition: The federal government could recognize Ahmed Madobe as the president of Jubaland for a few years, similar to how President Mohamed Farmaajo recognized him.
Dividing the electoral commission: The proposal to separate the national electoral commission into federal and state commissions could face strong opposition from the federal government, and it’s unlikely there could be an agreement on this one.
Another round of negotiations: Most political dialogues drag for weeks and months, meaning rounds of discussions may be needed before agreements are reached as new demands are made and shifting of goal posts occur.
What do you think were the key outcomes of the meeting beetween Ahmed and Hassan in Kismayo?