U.N., E.U. urge Somali leaders to salvage election talks after travel dispute
UNTMIS said it regretted that the delegations could not travel because the required technical clearances were not granted, disrupting preparations for the dialogue scheduled to begin in the capital.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and the European Union have expressed concern after advance teams from Puntland and Jubaland were unable to arrive in Mogadishu ahead of a national consultative forum aimed at resolving Somalia’s political and electoral disputes.
In a statement on Sunday, UNTMIS said it regretted that the delegations could not travel because the required technical clearances were not granted, disrupting preparations for the dialogue scheduled to begin in the capital.
The UN mission urged all Somali stakeholders to prioritize the agreed forum to reach consensus on elections and other national issues before the expiration of constitutional mandates.
UNTMIS also called for the rapid completion of preparatory work by technical teams and encouraged the Federal Government of Somalia and the leadership of the Somali Future Council to create favourable conditions for the talks to proceed and deliver results.
The European Union echoed the UN’s concerns. EU Ambassador to Somalia Francesca Di Mauro said it was “shameful” that advance teams from the two federal member states could not arrive at Mogadishu’s airport due to what she described as a misunderstanding.
Writing on X, she urged all sides to find a solution to allow the long-awaited dialogue to go ahead.
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The planned consultative forum is part of intensified international efforts to break a prolonged political impasse over Somalia’s electoral process as the mandates of key political institutions approach their end.
At the center of the dispute is the federal government’s push to shift from a clan-based indirect electoral system to a one-person, one-vote model.
Opposition figures under the Somali Future Council, which includes leaders from Puntland and Jubaland, have warned that the proposed reforms could be used to justify extensions of political terms without broad consensus.
The federal government maintains that the reforms are essential to strengthening democratic governance.
The EU Delegation recently welcomed the Somali Future Council’s acceptance of an invitation to attend the forum starting February 1, describing it as a constructive step while stressing the need for a conducive political environment for meaningful dialogue.
International partners have warned that failure to reach an inclusive agreement risks escalating tensions and undermining stability in Somalia.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.