MOGADISHU (SD) – The Federal Government of Somalia has confirmed that the President of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, will participate in the National Consultative Council meeting to be held in Mogadishu.

A senior government official stated that the Puntland President has been formally sent an invitation to be among the leaders invited to the reconciliation talks. The meeting will focus on finding solutions to existing political disputes and unifying the direction for the country’s development.

Reliable reports indicate that Puntland President’s visit to Mogadishu has international backing, as representatives from the international community have held several meetings with President Deni in the cities of Garowe and Bosaso. These discussions emphasized the importance of Puntland returning to the negotiation table.

It’s noteworthy that President Deni has not participated in the Consultative Council meetings since December 2022.

Relations between the Federal Government and Puntland administration have deteriorated, with all previous dialogue efforts and meetings between the two sides having completely stopped.