NAIROBI, Kenya (WDN)– NAIROBI, Kenya — In a quiet corner of Nairobi, far from the political heat of Mogadishu, a meeting took place that could reshape the direction of federal politics in Somalia. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing summit, nor did it involve presidents or prime ministers. Yet, beneath the surface, the symbolism was unmistakable.

When the Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Abdirisak Ahmed Said, and his Jubaland counterpart, Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman, sat down this week, the topic on the table extended far beyond legislative cooperation. For the seasoned political observers watching from Garowe to Kismayo, it was a soft opening — a careful, calculated first step toward healing a strained relationship between two of Somalia’s most influential federal member states.

“The tone was different this time,” said a senior aide who attended the closed-door session. “They weren’t just exchanging protocol niceties — there was a sense of unfinished business, of two old allies looking for a way back to common ground.”

The meeting, which included deputies and key parliamentary figures from both sides, focused officially on enhancing cooperation between the legislative branches of the two states. But reading between the lines, many believe it laid the groundwork for something much more significant: a long-anticipated presidential meeting between Puntland’s Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland’s Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe.

Time, pride, and politics got in the way,” noted a political analyst based in Garowe. “But this parliamentary dialogue could be the broom that starts to sweep the dust off their old alliance.”

Indeed, both Puntland and Jubaland have historically stood shoulder to shoulder in pushing for a true federal Somalia, often in defiance of overreach from the central government. But as federal tensions flared and political ambitions collided, communication between the two presidents became minimal — at times, nonexistent.

Now, there’s growing speculation that the meeting in Nairobi could be a prelude to a landmark visit: President Madobe traveling to Garowe for a face-to-face discussion with President Deni — not as a ceremonial gesture, but as a genuine effort to reconcile and recalibrate their shared vision.

“If that happens,” said a regional diplomat familiar with both leaders, “it will send shockwaves through Villa Somalia. It would show that federalism is alive — and that the regions are taking matters into their own hands.”

Neither side has confirmed plans for a presidential summit, but sources close to both governments hint that quiet preparations may already be underway. Symbolically, the decision to begin with parliaments — not presidents — reflects a careful approach rooted in Somali political tradition: resolve things in the elders’ house first, then bring in the chiefs.

As the meeting in Nairobi concluded, both speakers expressed their commitment to strengthening legislative cooperation and enhancing experience-sharing in governance. But for those who’ve followed Somalia’s federal dynamics for years, it’s not just what was said — it’s what wasn’t.

“We have more in common than apart,” one MP remarked as the group dispersed, echoing a sentiment many hope will reach the ears of Presidents Deni and Madobe.

Back in Puntland and Jubaland, anticipation builds. Could this be the moment the two leaders finally shake hands again — not just to look back, but to step forward together?

If so, it all began here — not with fanfare, but with a conversation in Nairobi.

WardheerNews