MOGADISHU, Somalia — August 10, 2026 — Senior officials from Jubbaland and representatives from neighboring countries have arrived on the outskirts of Beled Hawo in Somalia’s Gedo region for direct talks with Abdirashid Janan, according to informed sources, in what could mark a significant attempt to resolve a prolonged dispute over control of the strategic border area.
The meeting is believed to be the first face-to-face engagement between the sides since tensions intensified over political and security control in parts of Gedo.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the talks are focused on a possible arrangement that could pave the way for Jubbaland to restore its administration in Beled Hawo and surrounding areas. No formal agreement had been announced as of Monday, and neither the Federal Government nor Jubbaland had publicly detailed the negotiations.
Janan, a former Jubbaland security minister who has played a prominent role in Gedo’s shifting political and security alliances, had previously been deployed to the Beled Hawo area in connection with Federal Government efforts to challenge Jubbaland’s control and influence in the border district.
The latest meeting signals a possible change in relations between Janan and Jubbaland, although the outcome of the discussions remains unclear.
According to informed sources, representatives from neighboring countries are also involved in the latest engagement. The sources did not publicly identify all of the officials participating or provide details about the role of each regional representative.
Negotiations have been taking place for several days through intermediaries and other stakeholders, according to people familiar with the process. Those efforts have focused on reducing tensions and finding an arrangement over administration and security in areas of Gedo where rival political interests have competed for influence.
The direct meeting near Beled Hawo represents a new stage in those discussions.
Federal Government Faces Setbacks in Gedo
The talks come after Federal Government efforts to strengthen its position in parts of Gedo encountered setbacks, particularly around Doolow, another strategically important town in the region.
Sources said previous efforts by Mogadishu-aligned forces to secure key areas around Doolow did not achieve their intended objectives. The Federal Government has not publicly characterized those developments as a defeat or confirmed that they have led to a change in its broader policy toward Gedo.
Doolow and Beled Hawo are particularly significant because of their locations near Somalia’s borders with Ethiopia and Kenya. Control of the towns carries political and security importance and affects movement along major cross-border routes.
Beled Hawo sits directly along the Kenyan border, opposite Mandera, making developments in the district relevant not only to Somalia’s internal political competition but also to neighboring countries concerned about border security and stability.
Gedo has for years been one of the main areas of disagreement between Somalia’s Federal Government and Jubbaland.
Jubbaland considers Gedo part of the territory under its federal member state administration. Relations between Mogadishu and Jubbaland have repeatedly deteriorated over political representation, security deployments and control of local administrations.
Federal authorities have at different times worked with local political figures and security forces in Gedo, while Jubbaland has sought to re-establish or strengthen its authority in districts where its administration has faced resistance.
Janan has been a prominent figure in that struggle. His shifting political relationships have made his position particularly significant in efforts by competing sides to establish influence in the region.
The latest negotiations therefore come at a sensitive moment, with intermediaries seeking to bridge divisions among actors who have previously backed opposing political and security arrangements.
A negotiated arrangement in Beled Hawo could alter the balance of political authority in Gedo and potentially reduce the risk of confrontation between forces aligned with the Federal Government and Jubbaland.
If the talks result in Jubbaland regaining administrative authority in the area, the development would represent a significant shift from earlier Federal Government efforts to limit Jubbaland’s influence in parts of the region. Any such transfer, however, remains unconfirmed and would depend on the terms agreed by the parties involved.
The involvement of representatives from neighboring countries also highlights the regional importance of stability in Gedo. Beled Hawo and Doolow are both located along international borders, meaning political or military instability can have consequences for cross-border trade, civilian movement and security cooperation.