Opposition: Ex-leaders barred from airport meeting; government cites security breach

Somali opposition says ex-president, ex-PM blocked from Mogadishu airport meeting; government cites security breach

Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council on Friday accused security forces of preventing former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble from entering Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport to attend a scheduled political meeting, escalating tensions ahead of anticipated talks with the federal government.

In a statement, the council said the two former leaders were blocked Thursday night from accessing the Airport Hotel, located inside the airport compound, where the council had convened to prepare for expected negotiations with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The gathering was intended to coordinate positions ahead of discussions aimed at resolving disputes over the electoral process and constitutional amendments, according to the council. “The Council is committed to participating in talks to determine the political direction of the country, particularly to reach consensus on elections and prevent a constitutional vacuum and prolonged political conflict,” the statement said.

The council called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to prioritize national unity over what it described as political interests that risk deepening divisions. It also argued that former presidents, prime ministers and senior officials are entitled to established state protocols and security arrangements, and that respecting those protocols reflects institutional continuity and national dignity.

Somalia’s Ministry of Security rejected the accusations, saying the former leaders had violated airport security procedures. In its statement, the ministry said a large contingent of armed personnel accompanying them attempted to enter the airport through an unauthorized gate.

The government said the group brought a significant number of weapons into the airport area, a move it described as a threat to aviation security and public safety. It maintained that security forces acted to uphold established protocols and prevent any action that could undermine airport operations.

The standoff underscores the fragility of Somalia’s political climate as the country approaches the end of President Hassan Sheikh’s term and seeks to negotiate a new electoral framework. Talks between the federal government and the Somali Future Council are widely viewed as critical to preventing a constitutional vacuum and avoiding further political polarization and uncertainty.

Despite Thursday’s confrontation, the Future Council reiterated that it remains ready to engage in dialogue with the federal government to reach an electoral agreement that safeguards the legitimacy of state institutions and prevents instability. The government, for its part, framed the incident as an enforcement of aviation and security rules rather than a political obstruction.

With high-stakes negotiations looming, the episode at Aden Adde International Airport reflects the competing pressures on political actors to secure leverage while keeping channels of dialogue open. Whether the incident hardens positions or pushes both sides toward clearer ground rules for engagement may determine the pace — and prospects — of the coming talks on Somalia’s election mechanics and constitutional path.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.