Somali civil society backs elders to mediate political dispute

Monday April 27, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — As tensions persist between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders, civil society groups are backing a familiar force in Somali politics: traditional elders.

At a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday, Osman Moalim Shatax, chairman of a coalition of non-state actors, said civil society supports appeals from both sides to bring elders into the mediation process.

Shatax said the elders are in a strong position to help restore confidence and steer the country toward a political settlement at a sensitive time.

“Elders can play a major role in bringing the sides closer together and building confidence,” Shatax said, calling on all parties to choose dialogue and consensus as the path toward a peaceful transfer of power.

He stressed that unity, stability and broad-based political participation remain vital to protecting Somalia’s democratic gains and preserving national cohesion.

The remarks came days after hundreds of traditional elders converged on Mogadishu for the inauguration of Murusade sub-clan leader Ugaas Abdirisaq Ugaas Abdullahi, a gathering attended by senior government officials, opposition figures and community leaders from across the country.

In recent weeks, political leaders have increasingly turned to elders to help bridge disputes over the electoral process and the mandate of federal institutions, as uncertainty deepens over Somalia’s political transition.