Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has rejected the national dialogue proposed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, describing the initiative as unlikely to produce meaningful results. He has also called on the president to resign from office.
The talks, scheduled to take place in Mogadishu from November 14 to 18, 2026, were expected to bring together political stakeholders and civil society organisations.
In an interview with Puntland TV, Deni criticised the Federal Government’s proposed dialogue initiative, saying the planned meetings would be a waste of time and would not produce any results.
He called on the Somali people to unite to save the country and urged political stakeholders to engage in genuine consultations aimed at finding solutions to the country’s political situation and ongoing challenges.
Deni also said he had no confidence in President Hassan Sheikh’s leadership, accusing him of being unable to organise elections in the country. He added that Puntland would not abandon its efforts to protect its own interests and those of the Somali nation.
The Puntland president further called on Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to step down, accusing him of failing to lead the country and steering Somalia away from its political direction.
As an alternative, Deni proposed the establishment of a transitional council to oversee the transition period and guide the country towards elections as a way of addressing the ongoing political crisis.
His remarks come amid escalating tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government, a dispute that has affected cooperation and relations between the two sides.
