Somali political leaders have held rare talks in Nairobi aimed at what they termed “breaking years of political deadlock and paving the way for a more stable future.”
The gathering brought together influential figures from Somalia’s patchwork of federal states and political movements, including Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe” of Jubaland and Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland, alongside former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Saacid Shirdoon.
The critical meeting, which comes as the fragile Horn of Africa nation grapples with insecurity, economic hardship and a governance crisis, was also attended by Abdirahman Abdishakur, Wadajir party leader and a long-time critic of centralised rule in Mogadishu.
According to a joint statement released after the meeting, leaders agreed to establish a National Future Council of Somalia.
The council is designed to unify the efforts of regional administrations and opposition actors.
The forum, they said, would serve as a vehicle to navigate Somalia’s fraught political transition and create a foundation for long-term stability.
The communiqué also called for urgent intra-Somali dialogue to resolve disputes over governance and security.
The participants, key political players in Somalia, stressed the need to complete the council’s formation in the coming months.
The leaders appealed for unity among Somalis, urging citizens to reject political fragmentation and work collectively to preserve national dignity.
Kenya, which hosted the talks, was praised for its role in supporting Somalia’s peace process. Nairobi has long played a critical role in Somali affairs, from hosting peace conferences in the early 2000s to contributing troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission supporting the Somali government.
The Nairobi talks come at a time of heightened uncertainty. Somalia continues to face relentless attacks from al-Shabaab, a humanitarian crisis worsened by climate shocks, and stalled progress on constitutional reforms.
Abdiaziz Ali, a political analyst, warned that without meaningful dialogue between the federal government in Mogadishu and the member states, the country risks sliding deeper into instability.
“Still, Thursday’s meeting signalled a rare moment of consensus among Somalia’s key fractious political elite,” he said.
Rage Osman, a Horn of Africa observer based in Kismayo, added: “The emphasis on unity and shared responsibility is important. They should engage President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and all political actors. But the real test will be whether these commitments translate into action on the ground.”
For many Somalis, weary of decades of conflict and political wrangling, the hope is that the Nairobi process will lead to something different.
“Maybe this time there will be a critical political change capable of delivering peace, security and economic opportunity,” Osman said.