Somali civil society backs elders in political dispute mediation
Mogadishu (AX) — As Somalia grapples with a widening political standoff, civil society groups are urging that traditional elders be brought to the forefront of efforts to bridge the divide between the federal government and opposition leaders.
Monday April 27, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — As Somalia grapples with a widening political standoff, civil society groups are urging that traditional elders be brought to the forefront of efforts to bridge the divide between the federal government and opposition leaders.
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At a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday, Osman Moalim Shatax, chairman of a coalition of non-state actors, said civil society supports recent appeals from both government and opposition figures for elders to take part in mediation.
Shatax said the country’s traditional leaders are uniquely positioned to restore confidence and help steer the parties toward a workable political settlement at a sensitive moment.
“Elders can play a major role in bringing the sides closer together and building confidence,” Shatax said, calling on all sides to choose dialogue and consensus as the basis for a peaceful transfer of power.
He added that unity, stability and broad political participation are vital to protecting Somalia’s democratic gains and preserving national cohesion.
The appeal follows the gathering of hundreds of traditional elders in Mogadishu last week for the inauguration of Murusade sub-clan leader Ugaas Abdirisaq Ugaas Abdullahi, an occasion attended by senior government officials, opposition figures and community leaders from across the country.
In recent weeks, political leaders have increasingly looked to elders to help resolve disputes over the electoral process and the mandate of federal institutions, as tensions rise and uncertainty deepens around Somalia’s political transition.