Somali government presses ahead with one-person, one-vote plan after talks fail

Saturday May 16, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government on Friday said it will press ahead with one-person, one-vote elections, insisting the country has entered a new democratic chapter after three days of talks with opposition leaders collapsed without a deal.

The Ministry of Information said the government was carrying out its constitutional obligation to organize free and fair elections that give citizens the right to vote and stand for office.

The announcement followed negotiations in Mogadishu between the government and opposition figures from May 13 to 15, which ended without agreement on elections, constitutional reforms and the broader political transition.

The government said it had recently held consultations with political stakeholders and representatives from different sectors of society to gather opinions on the electoral process. It accused some opposition members of advancing positions that ran counter to citizens’ basic right to choose their leaders and compete for elected positions.

“Some members of the opposition have brought to the table views contrary to the fundamental right of the Somali citizen to choose and be elected,” the statement said.

The government said Somalia will proceed with one-person, one-vote elections in accordance with the constitution, national legislation and the administration’s political agenda. It added that the door remained open for dialogue and consultation with all political actors.

The failed talks, held with support from international partners, have widened a political standoff between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and opposition leaders over the country’s electoral system.

The opposition-aligned Somali Future Council issued its own statement saying Mohamud’s term had formally ended on May 15. The council argued there was no political or constitutional arrangement to extend his rule beyond that date.

The council said it would now describe Mohamud as a “former president” and urged security forces to carry out their constitutional responsibilities and reject “executive orders” from him.

It accused the federal government of failing to build an inclusive political settlement, saying Somalia had entered a delicate political moment that required national consultation and a legitimate process to guide the transition.

The council also said it was developing a “political platform” to safeguard Somalia’s sovereignty and unity during the transition period. It thanked international partners for backing political dialogue.

Mohamud’s four-year term was scheduled to expire on May 15, 2026. But Somalia’s parliament approved constitutional amendments that changed the presidential term from four years to five and extended the mandate of federal institutions by one year, a move rejected by leading opposition figures.

The dispute over the president’s mandate is likely to intensify tensions in Mogadishu, where opposition groups have already accused the government of forcing through electoral and constitutional changes without consensus.

Federal officials argue that direct elections are essential to move Somalia away from indirect voting and give citizens a stronger role in choosing their leaders. Opposition groups say the process cannot be considered legitimate unless it rests on a broader political agreement that includes federal member states and major political stakeholders.