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The delegation was received at Baidoa airport by the interim leader of Southwest state, Jibril Abdiraashid Haji, in the presence of senior officials, politicians and members of civil society.

Officials said the visit was aimed at strengthening political consultations and participating in the ongoing electoral process in Southwest Somalia, where preparations for the leadership transition are underway.

Southwest authorities said they were committed to holding a free, transparent and constitutional election, adding that all candidates would be given an equal opportunity to take part in the process.

Adan Madobe thanked the people of Baidoa for what he described as a warm welcome and stressed the importance of unity, cooperation and political stability to achieve sustainable development in the region.

The group arrived at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, where they were received by Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali.The returnees had faced severe hardships, including detention, abuse and extremely poor living conditions, the official said.The repatriation operation was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as the Somali embassy in Libya, according to a ministry statement.The move follows a recent visit to Libya by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, aimed at strengthening cooperation on the return of Somali nationals stranded abroad.Upon arrival in Mogadishu, the migrants were provided with immediate assistance, including medical care, temporary shelter and psychosocial support, the ministry said.Authorities added that reintegration programs are being prepared to help the returnees rebuild their lives.The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Somali citizens overseas, pledging to intensify efforts to curb irregular migration and expand domestic employment opportunities.

Despite the parliamentary mandate ending, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud still has about one month remaining in his term, a situation the officials say could further complicate the political landscape.

The development comes after the federal government approved controversial constitutional amendments extending the mandates of state institutions to five years — a move that has divided political actors.

Opposition figures, backed by some federal member states including Puntland and Jubbaland, said parliament’s mandate has formally ended and called for increased international pressure to secure an inclusive electoral process.

They warned that any steps taken beyond constitutional timelines could deepen the rift between the government and its critics.

Meanwhile, Mohamud’s administration is focusing on plans to hold regional elections in South West, Galmudug and Hirshabelle, which officials view as a pilot toward eventual nationwide one-person, one-vote elections.

Sources said opposition leaders are planning political meetings in Galkayo to coordinate their next steps, although internal disagreements have reportedly slowed efforts to unify their position.

Tensions are also rising in Mogadishu, with stakeholders closely watching developments amid concerns over potential instability.

The agreement is intended to establish a framework for boosting investment, technical knowledge exchange and the development of value chains in Somalia’s emerging mining sector.Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, signed the deal on behalf of the federal government, while Kris Warner signed for the US state during a ceremony held at the state Senate building.A Somali delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama attended the event alongside regional officials. On the American side, members of the state Senate took part, including Senate President and Lieutenant Governor Randy Smith.During the proceedings, the state Senate also adopted a formal resolution supporting the partnership, underscoring what officials described as the strategic importance of closer economic and technical ties with Somalia.The memorandum outlines cooperation in several key areas, including joint exploration and extraction of critical minerals, development of local processing capacity to increase domestic value addition, exchange of technical expertise and the promotion of investment and business partnerships between institutions and companies from both sides.