By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU-Somalia’s federal leadership and opposition figures have launched high-level discussions in Mogadishu aimed at resolving disputes over elections and constitutional reform. The engagement brings together the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Future Council, an opposition alliance that includes regional leaders.
The talks follow a luncheon hosted by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for members of the Future Council, a move both sides described as a signal of readiness for dialogue after weeks of escalating political tension. Officials said the agenda covers the electoral framework, completion of the Provisional Constitution, and the country’s worsening drought crisis. Participants noted that discussions began in an open atmosphere and agreed to continue regular sessions in the coming days.
The central disagreement concerns the format and timing of Somalia’s next elections. Leaders from Puntland and Jubaland, including Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, are reported to favor a return to the 2022 indirect electoral model. Other opposition figures have expressed reservations, arguing that the previous process was flawed and requires reform before it can be used again. These differences reflect broader tensions over representation, federalism, and power-sharing between the center and federal member states.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also held separate consultations with Deni and Madobe to discuss preparations for the conference and explore confidence-building measures. Opposition leaders convened internally before formal negotiations resumed, indicating that divisions persist within the council over the preferred electoral model.
The negotiations were relocated from a venue inside Aden Adde International Airport to Villa Somalia, the presidential palace, in what officials described as a logistical adjustment. The outcome of these talks is expected to shape Somalia’s electoral trajectory and broader constitutional reform process in the months ahead.
