Former President Sharif: Kismayo meeting aims to unite opposition, not form new government

MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said Friday that an opposition coalition conference planned in Kismayo will focus on forging a unified political vision and a credible path to national elections, rejecting claims the gathering is meant to form a parallel government.

“The objective of the Kismayo conference is to agree on a common vision, particularly on elections, not to form a new government,” Sharif said in remarks to reporters, framing the meeting as a push for a viable, fair and inclusive electoral process.

Sharif said long-standing dialogue platforms, including the Somali National Salvation Council and the Somali National Assembly, remain vital for debating national issues. He added that participants in the Kismayo talks are experienced political figures whose advice should be weighed seriously in efforts to advance state-building and electoral reform.

The former president argued that the planned local council elections in Mogadishu cannot substitute for a comprehensive national process. He said the capital’s municipal vote, while noteworthy, would not resolve what he described as the federal government’s broader failure to deliver a credible countrywide electoral roadmap.

Sharif accused PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamudof steering Somalia back toward political uncertainty and warned that mishandling the national process could carry severe consequences for stability. “If the government loses legitimacy in national elections, it will be very difficult for the country to recover from the political damage that follows,” he said.

He urged authorities to engage with opposition proposals rather than dismiss them, saying consensus on election rules and timelines will require trust across the political spectrum and among federal member states as well as Mogadishu-based institutions.

Opposition figures, including representatives from Jubbaland andPuntland State, are expected to attend the Kismayo meeting in the coming days. Members of former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s team said he will not take part.

The Kismayo conference underscores an intensifying debate over how Somalia can secure a broadly accepted, inclusive electoral framework. Sharif’s intervention signals that opposition leaders intend to coordinate positions and press for a process they say protects institutional legitimacy and national stability.

• Agenda: unify opposition vision around national elections; no plan to form a parallel government.
• Participation: leaders from multiple regions, including Jubbaland and Puntland State; former President Farmaajo not participating.

While organizers have not released a detailed program, Sharif emphasized that the talks aim to channel experienced political voices into practical proposals on rules, sequencing and oversight that could underpin a transparent national vote. He said the opposition’s goal is not confrontation, but course correction toward an inclusive process that avoids a legitimacy crisis.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.