Reporting by: HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU – A political rift has emerged within the Somali Rescue Forum (Madasha Samatabixinta Soomaaliyeed) over reports that Villa Somalia may be seeking an extension of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term, highlighting the fragility of Somalia’s political consensus as the country approaches its next elections.
Sources within the forum say disagreements have arisen over how to respond to the alleged plan. Some members, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdi Farah Shirdon (Saacid), as well as opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, are calling for an official statement condemning any attempt to extend the president’s term. They argue that a public position is necessary to prevent Villa Somalia from pursuing such a move.
Others, including former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Mohamed Hussein Roble, view the reports as unsubstantiated. They caution that premature condemnation could lend credibility to rumours and potentially benefit the presidency. These members suggest waiting until Villa Somalia takes concrete action before issuing a formal response.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud still has approximately seven months remaining in his term. While the president has repeatedly affirmed that he does not intend to seek a term extension, opposition figures remain sceptical. Some fear that delays in implementing one-person, one-vote elections could provide the government with additional time to extend its influence and potentially revert to indirect voting mechanisms, which have historically been used in Somalia.
The debate within the Somali Rescue Forum reflects broader tensions in Somalia’s political landscape, where longstanding distrust between the federal government and opposition groups has complicated efforts to organise credible, inclusive elections. Analysts say the coming months will be critical, as political actors seek to balance constitutional mandates with strategic considerations ahead of the country’s first direct elections in decades.
Observers warn that how the forum responds could have significant implications not only for the upcoming elections but also for Somalia’s broader state-building and governance process, which has been fragile since the collapse of the central government in 1991.
