President Hassan Sheikh and Somali Salvation Forum Leaders to Hold First Meeting in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, Somalia – The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and leaders of the Somali Salvation Forum are expected to hold their first meeting tomorrow in Mogadishu, marking a significant step in ongoing political negotiations.

According to sources, the meeting—scheduled as a luncheon—will be hosted by President Hassan Sheikh. Since the arrival of the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland in Mogadishu, there has been no direct engagement between the sides until now.

Venue and Agenda

The luncheon is set to take place at the Decale Hotel, located inside the Aden Adde International Airport compound.

Discussions are expected to focus on determining the venue and timeline for formal talks between the Federal Government and the Somali Salvation Forum. Sources indicate that President Hassan Sheikh’s team is strongly advocating for the meeting, seeking a broad understanding to prevent the collapse of dialogue between the two sides.

Security Assurances and Political Outreach

On Monday night, Mahad Mohamed Salad, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), visited the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland to offer security guarantees for attending talks at Villa Somalia.

Mahad Salad met with Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) and Said Abdullahi Deni at their hotel within the heavily secured Xalane compound, urging them to agree to hold the negotiations at the Presidential Palace.

He also reportedly held talks with former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo) to discuss the current political deadlock and explore solutions to disputes surrounding the electoral process and proposed amendments to the Provisional Constitution.

Dispute Over Venue Delays Talks

A major sticking point remains the location of the negotiations. President Hassan Sheikh prefers Villa Somalia as the venue, while Presidents Deni and Ahmed Madobe argue that the Xalane compound would provide a more neutral setting.

The disagreement has further delayed the official launch of the talks, as political tensions continue over constitutional reforms and the country’s electoral framework.