Kismayo, Somalia – Security preparations in Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayo intensified on Wednesday as two military aircraft carrying Somali government and African Union troops reportedly landed ahead of highly anticipated talks between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe.”
Local sources said the troops were immediately deployed to strategic entry points and key installations across the city, signalling efforts to prevent any disruption to the meeting. The talks, which are expected to focus on political reconciliation, security coordination and federal-state relations, come at a critical time as Somalia navigates a complex transition marked by constitutional reforms and looming elections.
Tensions between the federal government and Jubbaland have previously stalled national dialogue efforts, particularly over control of security forces and resource-sharing arrangements. However, both leaders have recently hinted at a willingness to de-escalate and pursue a negotiated path forward.
Residents of Kismayo expressed mixed reactions — some hopeful that the talks could bring lasting political stability, while others feared the buildup could trigger confrontation if diplomacy fails.
Neither Villa Somalia nor Jubbaland authorities issued an official statement on the troop arrivals, but government insiders described the deployment as “standard precautionary protocol” for a high-level head-of-state visit.
If successful, the meeting could mark a major step toward healing long-standing fractures within Somalia’s federal system. All eyes are now on Kismayo as preparations give way to diplomacy.