Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo today held talks with the leader of Jubbaland regional state, Ahmed Mohamed Islam aka Ahmed Madobe, in the Galmudug state capital, Dusamareb.

Reports indicate that the president’s meeting with Madobe was an introductory one ahead of planned talks that will be held between officials from the federal government and Jubbaland after over a year of strained relations between them.

The dispute between the two sides began in August last year after the federal government rejected the controversial re-election of Ahmed Madobe as Jubbaland president for a second term in office.

The federal government only recently recognised Madobe as an interim leader of the region.

President Farmajo, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and the leaders of the five regional states in the country are all in Dusamareb to attend crucial talks between the central government and regional administrations that are expected to discuss the upcoming elections and other contentious political issues.