Kismayo(Mogadishu24)-Jubaland State President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) has returned to Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland, following the collapse of the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu.

Madobe departed early on Monday after the week-long talks failed to reach a consensus, particularly due to the absence of Puntland State from the discussions. He was welcomed at the Kismayo airport by regional authorities.

Jubaland’s Minister of Information, Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, emphasized the state’s position, stating, “Jubaland State won’t accept a term beyond its date and will decide its future independently.”

Madobe maintained that discussions on electoral issues could not proceed in the NCC without Puntland’s involvement.

The failure of the NCC meeting has drawn the support of opposition leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who praised Madobe’s stance. They also urged other Federal Member States (FMS) to take a similar position, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of seeking an unlawful term extension.

There has been no official response from Villa Somalia regarding the NCC standoff and the meeting’s failure to reach an agreement.