Somalia’s federal government, opposition fail to reach agreement at election talks
At the heart of the breakdown is a fundamental disagreement over how upcoming elections both federal and regional should be conducted.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — High-level talks between Somalia’s federal government and the Somali Future Council ended Monday without agreement, as the country struggles to settle on an electoral framework ahead of expiring mandates.
At a press conference in Mogadishu, leaders of the Somali Future Council accused the federal government of continuing unilateral constitutional amendments while negotiations were underway, undermining trust and derailing efforts to reach a compromise.
The council also said the government barred more than 50 lawmakers from participating in parliamentary sessions. It also alleged intimidation, security pressure against opposition figures and defamatory media campaigns targeting its members.
“The Provisional Constitution of 2012 remains the legal foundation of the country,” council said, arguing that any amendments require broad national consensus, meaningful public consultation and preservation of the federal balance of powers between Mogadishu and regional states.
At the heart of the breakdown is a fundamental disagreement over how upcoming elections both federal and regional should be conducted.
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The federal government is advocating a transition to a one-person, one-vote system based on political parties, a long-standing reform goal intended to replace Somalia’s indirect, clan-based electoral model. The Somali Future Council says it does not oppose direct elections in principle, but argues that prevailing security threats, financial constraints and limited time make such a transition unrealistic in the current cycle.
The two sides are also divided over the management of upcoming regional elections, particularly in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states. The Future Council has called for indirect elections in those states, similar to the processes recently used in Puntland and Jubbaland.
President Mohamud has indicated a preference for advancing toward direct elections and has maintained that the administration of state-level polls falls within the authority of respective regional leadership structures.
Monday’s failed talks underscore the widening gap between the federal government’s reform agenda and opposition concerns about timing, inclusivity and constitutional procedure.
Federal government did not immediately respond in detail to the opposition’s claims, but President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has consistently defended the government’s reform agenda and its push to modernize Somalia’s electoral system.
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.