Djibouti (KAAB TV) – Outgoing Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his delegation will travel to Djibouti to attend a meeting honoring Djibouti’s support for Somalia’s Third Republic.
In Djibouti, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is reported to plan a private meeting today with President Mohamud and the aforementioned opposition leaders.
According to some reports, a number of regional state presidents of Somalia have declined to attend the gathering in Djibouti.
These include Saeed Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (“Madobe”) of Jubaland. Additionally, it is reported that former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble will not be present at the event organised in Djibouti.
This absence is raising questions in some quarters. Roble is noted for having played a significant role in restoring diplomatic relations between Somalia and Djibouti during his time in office, yet his apparent omission from the invitation or attendance list has triggered speculation over whether the Djibouti government might be signalling a different reward or honour, or whether his non-attendance stems from personal or political reasons.
The gathering in Djibouti is taking place against the backdrop of many Somali political leaders and senior officials convening in the city for the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the historic Carta Agreement.
Observers note that while many are present to mark this milestone, Roble will not be among those formally welcomed—or at least that is how the situation is being interpreted.
In short: the visit by President Mohamud to Djibouti, the planned meetings with President Guelleh and opposition figures, the non-attendance of several regional leaders, and the omission of Roble from the invitation list together point to a more complex political and diplomatic dynamic than simply a “thank-you” meeting.