Somali opposition coalition urges president to hold election talks within a month

Somali Future Council urges Hassan Sheikh to convene election talks within a month, warns of crisis

GAROWE, Somalia — The Somali Future Council on Monday renewed its call for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene all political stakeholders within a month to agree on a clear and timely electoral framework, warning that further delay risks a constitutional and security crisis as the country nears another transfer of power.

In a statement issued after a meeting of the Future Council’s Technical Committee in Garowe, members said failure to reach consensus on Somalia’s next elections could create a dangerous vacuum that threatens national stability and emboldens militant groups at a sensitive moment for state institutions.

• Convene inclusive talks within a month to set a credible electoral framework
• Prioritize consensus to avoid constitutional paralysis and renewed insecurity
• Consider alternative steps if the presidency does not respond to the call for dialogue

The Garowe session focused on preparing a negotiating roadmap for a Somalia election agreement, drawing on decisions taken at the earlier Kismayo Conference, which called for dialogue and consensus among political leaders. The council framed national consultation as the only viable path to avoid confrontation and ensure a credible transition in the coming months.

It also cautioned that if President Hassan Sheikh does not respond to the push for immediate talks, political actors should consider other lawful steps to keep the electoral timeline on track and avert what it described as the risk of constitutional paralysis and renewed insecurity.

President Hassan Sheikh, whose term expires in less than six months, has maintained that Somalia must move toward one-person, one-vote elections, rejecting a return to the indirect system used in previous cycles. His government argues that direct elections are essential for democratic legitimacy and long-term state building after years of provisional arrangements.

Opposition figures counter that conditions for nationwide direct voting are not yet in place and warn that pressing ahead without broad agreement could deepen political divisions. They argue a consensus-based model remains the only viable option given persistent security, logistical and administrative constraints. Opposition leaders have said they are prepared to work with the president to deliver an improved process compared with previous elections, but stressed that meaningful negotiations are urgently needed to avoid a repeat of past standoffs.

Somalia has repeatedly faced election-related crises over the past decade, with delays and disputes often morphing into political brinkmanship and raising security concerns. Analysts warn that without compromise on the electoral framework, Somalia risks replaying those cycles of instability just as authorities confront an ongoing insurgency and economic pressures that stretch state capacity.

By reiterating its demand for a one-month window to launch comprehensive talks, the Future Council sought to inject urgency into a process that has stalled amid competing visions for Somalia’s democratic trajectory. The council’s message underscored both the stakes and the narrow margin for error: agree a workable, inclusive election plan soon, or risk a vacuum that could undermine the transition and wider security gains.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.