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Somalia’s Federal Government has accused opposition leaders of disrupting ongoing political talks in Mogadishu after pulling away from an agenda that had already been agreed upon. The disagreement has added to the growing tension over how the country should handle upcoming elections and long-awaited constitutional reforms.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the government said it has been working since March 2025 to create a national consultation platform. According to officials, this platform was designed to bring together former leaders, politicians, scholars and members of civil society to discuss key national issues, including state-building and democratization. The government insists that Somalia’s most critical political challenges can only be resolved through open dialogue and mutual agreement, guided by the Provisional Constitution and existing national laws.
The statement emphasized that all political stakeholders have an important role to play, especially when it comes to elections and maintaining stability within the federal system. It said that during preliminary discussions, both sides agreed to focus on three main issues. These included forming a committee to advise on federal elections, organizing state-level elections, and holding a follow-up meeting in April 2026 to further advance the federal electoral process.
However, the government claims that when formal negotiations began, some members of the opposition-linked Somali Future Council introduced new proposals that were not part of the original agreement. Officials argued that these proposals lacked any clear constitutional or legal foundation. One of the key concerns raised by the government was a demand from opposition figures to have direct advisory authority over the administration of elections in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states.
The question of how elections should be conducted in these states has been a major source of disagreement. The opposition has repeatedly supported indirect elections in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest, similar to the systems recently used in Puntland and Jubbaland. Indirect elections typically involve clan representatives or delegates selecting leaders, rather than allowing citizens to vote directly. On the other hand, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has expressed his preference for moving toward a one-person, one-vote system, where citizens directly elect their leaders. He has also maintained that the management of state elections falls under the authority of each state’s leadership, not the federal opposition.
The federal government says it showed patience and flexibility during the talks in order to protect the agreed framework. However, it described a later public statement by the opposition as a violation of prior understandings and a setback to progress. Despite this breakdown, the government insists that it remains open to continued dialogue.
In its statement, the government reaffirmed that negotiations are still open to anyone willing to engage in discussions grounded in the constitution. It stressed its commitment to ensuring that any electoral process reflects both the law and the will of the Somali people.
Following the collapse of the talks, the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), together with other international partners, met with senior representatives from both the Federal Government and the Somali Future Council. UNTMIS expressed disappointment that no agreement had been reached so far. At the same time, it welcomed public commitments from both sides to continue working toward a solution and encouraged renewed engagement to break the political deadlock.
As Somalia continues to navigate its complex political transition, the outcome of these negotiations will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s democratic future and the stability of its federal system.