The presidents of Jubaland, Ahmed Madobe, and Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, arrived in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday afternoon for the much-awaited historic electoral talks that would define the politics of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The two regional leaders were received by the senior federal officials and members of parliament, signaling a cautious thaw in the often icy relations between the federal government of Somalia and its vocal member states of Puntland and Jubaland.

The anticipated high-stakes talk initiated by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to tackle the most contentious issues currently facing the Somali state.

The bone of contention is the coming election originally slated to take place in 2026. Already there is a fierce debate in the federal parliament over chapter 4 of the provisional constitution, on articles governing the distribution of power and resources, which is currently facing opposition from lawmakers of Puntland and Jubaland.

The voting model is another elephant in the room, as persistent disagreements over the one-person-one-vote system are being overlooked in favor of the 4.5-clan-based system. The regional leader has cautioned about the security and feasibility of the one-person-one-vote system, which was successfully used for the local council elections in the Banadir region in 2025.

Both Deni and Modebe have historically resisted what they perceive as federal overreach, advocating for a more decentralized approach to governance.

The talks come at a time when Somalia is navigating a complex international landscape, including a new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and ongoing tensions regarding Somaliland’s regional status.