MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government and an opposition alliance have reached a preliminary agreement to hold a long-awaited consultative conference at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The move, seen as a critical opening for political dialogue, would bring together the Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition coalition known as the Somali Future Council. The understanding on venue followed a request by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and came after days of behind-the-scenes contacts in which both sides signaled flexibility to create conditions for formal talks, the sources said.
- Advertisement -
Technical negotiations are continuing to finalize procedures and enable the conference to be officially convened in the coming days. While a final timetable has not been announced, organizers are working to complete logistical and security arrangements at the presidential compound, commonly known as Villa Somalia, and agree on the format for the opening session.
The latest breakthrough followed a luncheon hosted Tuesday by President Hassan Sheikh at Hotel Decale in Mogadishu with politicians from the Somali Future Council and members of the technical committee charged with organizing the talks. The gathering, described by participants as a preliminary step, was aimed at confidence-building and narrowing differences ahead of broader negotiations proposed by the federal government.
After the luncheon, representatives from both the government and the opposition told reporters they had reached an understanding on several disputed issues, including the venue for the dialogue. While details of the agenda remain under discussion, the two sides framed the venue deal as an essential foundation for moving forward.
In parallel to the Mogadishu consultations, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met late Tuesday with Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam. According to officials briefed on the meeting, the talks focused on coordinating support to ensure the consultative conference proceeds, reflecting the importance of buy-in from federal member states as the process advances.
The agreement on the venue is being widely viewed as an important step toward easing longstanding political tensions and preventing a breakdown in dialogue between the government and opposition figures. It also raises expectations that both sides can finalize ground rules that will govern the talks, including participation, agenda sequencing and mechanisms for follow-through.
While expectations are tempered by Somalia’s complex political landscape, stakeholders say the procedural work now underway will be decisive. The technical committee must secure consensus on the agenda and confirm attendance from key actors to avoid delays or renewed dispute over the process itself.
What happens next will determine whether the momentum from Tuesday’s engagements holds. Officials cautioned that the understanding on venue does not resolve deeper disagreements, but described it as a practical step to anchor the talks in a secure, neutral setting with clear protocols.
- What to watch: a formal announcement of dates and participants once technical talks conclude.
- Key variable: agreement on procedural rules, including how decisions will be recorded and implemented.
- Potential flashpoints: disagreements over agenda items and representation, which have stalled previous efforts at dialogue.
For now, both camps appear intent on signaling a willingness to talk. Tuesday’s meetings — from the presidential luncheon with the Somali Future Council to the prime minister’s outreach to regional leaders — suggest a coordinated push to prevent political rifts from widening and to give the consultative conference a credible launch in Mogadishu.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
