Leaders from Somalia’s federal member states of Jubaland and Puntland joined forces with prominent opposition figures in Nairobi on Thursday to launch a new political platform, signaling a potential realignment in the country’s fractious politics.
The gathering brought together Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khayre and Saacid Shirdoon, and opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur. In a joint resolution, they announced the creation of the Somali Future Council, uniting the Somali Salvation Forum with the two regional governments.
The Council, they said, will convene again inside Somalia “as soon as possible” to finalize its structure and set priorities for the country’s political transition. While the statement emphasized safeguarding Somalia’s unity and resisting actions that could threaten cohesion, the move underscores growing tensions between federal leaders and regional authorities who have long demanded a greater say in governance.
The Nairobi meeting comes just as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is preparing to travel to Kismayo for talks with Jubaland officials on easing the political standoff and facilitating upcoming elections. His administration has yet to respond to the Nairobi initiative, which could complicate his efforts to consolidate control.
The leaders also thanked the Government of Kenya for supporting efforts to stabilize Somalia — a gesture highlighting Nairobi’s growing role as both mediator and regional stakeholder.
For now, the Somali Future Council is a declaration of intent rather than a fully-formed bloc. But its emergence reflects the widening fault lines in Somali politics and sets the stage for renewed contestation over the direction of the country’s fragile transition.
