Saturday, June 21, 2025
Mogadishu-(HAN)-Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to hold a closed-door meeting in Mogadishu this week with key opposition figures, including former national leaders who have raised concerns over the government’s handling of the electoral process.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the meeting will be held privately, without media coverage, allowing both sides to engage in candid discussions behind closed doors.
In a related development, members of the Somali Opposition Salvation Forum (Madasha Samata-bixinta Mucaaradka Soomaaliyeed) convened last night at the Mogadishu residence of former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. During the meeting, the group agreed in principle to engage with President Mohamud, following a formal invitation from Villa Somalia.
Insiders say the gathering served as a preliminary step toward broader political consensus. The opposition leaders agreed to hold another internal consultative session to decide on the timing of the official talks and to select representatives who will participate in the upcoming dialogue with the president.
Former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, currently in Nairobi, is expected to arrive in Mogadishu today. He will be joined by another former Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon “Saacid,” who is also en route to the capital.
Most members of the opposition forum have recently returned to Mogadishu after time abroad, setting the stage for potentially significant political dialogue in the coming days.
