Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni is scheduled to visit Nairobi next week for political discussions with representatives of the international community. He is expected to join Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe and former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who are already in Nairobi, for joint meetings.
The international community has been urging Somali leaders to engage in talks on counterterrorism, the disputed constitution, and the upcoming elections. However, Villa Somalia insists that discussions should focus solely on the fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab.
In August 2024, President Deni met with ambassadors and officials from countries including the United States, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, as well as representatives from the European Union. The discussions focused on development projects, democratization, counterterrorism efforts, economic growth, security, and the upcoming elections.
President Deni has been vocal about Puntland’s commitment to combating militant groups. In October 2024, he announced a comprehensive military campaign aimed at eradicating Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-Somalia) from the region. He emphasized that the threat posed by these groups is a fundamental challenge to the region’s way of life and aspirations for a better future.
In March 2025, President Deni reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on security, stating that both Al-Shabaab and ISIS had been expelled from Puntland’s Bari region. He highlighted plans to build roads in former conflict zones to improve troop movements and civilian mobility.
These developments underscore the ongoing efforts by Somali regional leaders to engage with the international community on critical issues affecting the country’s stability and governance.
