Somalia’s Kismaayo conference sets Jan. 20 deadline, rejects term extensions, warns of parallel political process
KISMAAYO, Somalia — A three-day consultative conference in Kismaayo has issued a sweeping communiqué that sets Jan. 20, 2026, as a deadline for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene an inclusive national conference, rejects any extension of federal mandates and warns that Somalia risks slipping into parallel political processes if consensus is not restored.
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The meeting, held Dec. 18–20, brought together leaders from Puntland State and Jubbaland, opposition figures, independent politicians and members of the Federal Parliament. Participants assessed the country’s political direction, security posture, electoral framework and constitutional order, and accused the Federal Government of unilateral decision-making that threatens Somalia’s federal system.
The communiqué reaffirmed the 2012 Provisional Constitution as the sole legal foundation of the Somali state and rejected any attempt to bypass constitutional procedures without broad political agreement. It also opposed any electoral process limited to a single region — specifically including Banadir — and pressed for a nationally inclusive, consensus-based framework to manage the next vote.
On timelines, the statement explicitly ruled out term extensions and underscored that the Federal Parliament’s mandate ends April 14, 2026, and the president’s term expires May 15, 2026. Any effort to prolong either mandate, the group warned, would trigger instability, constitutional uncertainty and potential security risks.
What the communiqué says
- Set a Jan. 20, 2026, deadline for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene a fully inclusive national conference of all Somali political stakeholders to resolve electoral and constitutional disputes.
- Rejected any extension of federal terms, stating Parliament ends April 14, 2026, and the presidency May 15, 2026.
- Reaffirmed the 2012 Provisional Constitution as the country’s binding legal framework and opposed unilateral changes to constitutional processes.
- Opposed region-specific elections, including in Banadir, and demanded a nationwide, consensus-based electoral design.
- Endorsed security operations against al-Shabab and ISIS but cautioned against politicizing security institutions, urging civilian protection, human rights safeguards and institutional neutrality.
- Urged international partners to align engagement with constitutional governance, inclusive dialogue and long-term stability to avoid legitimizing competing political tracks.
Why it matters
The Kismaayo communiqué signals a hardened stance by key federal member states and opposition-aligned figures who argue that national decisions must be negotiated, not dictated. By fixing a date for broad-based talks and explicitly rejecting term extensions, the group is attempting to anchor Somalia’s volatile political calendar and preempt a drawn-out mandate crisis.
The risk of parallel tracks
Significantly, the communiqué warns that if the Jan. 20 deadline passes without an inclusive national conference, those gathered will continue independent consultative processes outside the current federal framework. That raises the prospect of competing political tracks — a scenario that could complicate security operations, polarize institutions and test international partnerships.
What comes next
The Federal Government faces mounting pressure to launch a consensus-building process that includes regional leaders, parliamentarians and opposition figures. Whether the presidency meets the January deadline and how federal member states respond will shape Somalia’s electoral roadmap and the durability of its federal system.
International partners are being urged to press for inclusive talks and to tie support to constitutional guardrails. Absent a negotiated path, stakeholders warn, Somalia could enter 2026 with deepening divisions, a contested electoral timetable and heightened security risks.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
