Somali Future Council Gathers in Mogadishu Ahead of Key Talks with Federal Government

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council convened in the capital on Saturday for internal consultations ahead of anticipated talks with federal leaders on elections and constitutional reform, as a high-stakes political standoff shows little sign of easing.

The meeting brought together powerful federal member state leaders, including Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madoobe. Participants focused on the dispute over the format, timing and procedures of the country’s next elections and on parliamentary constitutional amendments that opposition figures say need broader consensus.

Sources familiar with the closed-door session said the council engaged in detailed deliberations on the standoff between the opposition bloc and the federal government, discussing how to frame negotiations and narrow gaps over the electoral framework.

After the meeting, lawmaker Abdullahi Arab told reporters that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had not demonstrated readiness to hold a direct meeting with the Somali Future Council to help resolve the impasse. His remarks underscored entrenched divisions over the direction and design of Somalia’s electoral transition.

Deni reiterated earlier that disputes should be settled through dialogue and political wisdom. He indicated he and Madoobe would remain in Mogadishu until the election dispute is settled, signaling a sustained push by regional leaders for talks.

The consultations come as both sides prepare for expected formal negotiations following Hassan Sheikh’s return from the African Union summit. Political actors and observers widely view the talks as pivotal to averting a constitutional vacuum and preventing further polarization as the president’s term approaches its end.

Somalia’s electoral process and recent constitutional amendments have become flashpoints in recent months. Opposition figures aligned with the Somali Future Council are pressing for a negotiated settlement that, they argue, can secure a durable, broadly accepted path to the next vote.

The emerging agenda for talks appears to revolve around a handful of unresolved questions that carry significant implications for stability and governance during the transition period.

• Electoral model: Agreement on the format of the next elections remains unsettled, with the opposition urging a framework rooted in consensus among federal and regional leaders.
• Timing and procedures: Disputes over sequencing and implementation threaten to compress timelines and complicate logistics if left unresolved.
• Constitutional amendments: Recent parliamentary changes have stirred debate over scope and legitimacy, with opposition figures calling for wider buy-in before enforcement.
• Federal–member state relations: The role and authority of regional leaders in shaping the electoral roadmap remain central to any compromise.

While a firm date for formal talks has not been announced, both camps are expected to crystallize positions and potential concessions once the president returns to Mogadishu. The Somali Future Council’s posture suggests it will press for direct engagement at the leadership level, even as skepticism persists over whether such a meeting will happen swiftly.

For now, the political temperature remains high. The willingness of federal and regional leaders to enter substantive, face-to-face negotiations — and to prioritize a clearly defined, implementable electoral calendar — will likely determine whether Somalia can navigate the coming months without slipping into deeper uncertainty.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.