Somali president says political disputes should be settled inside Somalia
Speaking to Dawan TV this week, Mohamud said his administration is willing to pursue a political resolution to the divisions facing the country and that negotiations remain an option.
Saturday June 13, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said Somalia’s federal government is still prepared to sit down with opposition figures, insisting that the country’s political disputes should be settled at home through Somali-led dialogue.
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Speaking to Dawan TV this week, Mohamud said his administration is willing to pursue a political resolution to the divisions facing the country and that negotiations remain an option.
“There is always an opportunity,” Mohamud said. “The Federal Government’s doors are open, and it is ready to engage in dialogue until a solution is reached.”
The president acknowledged the long-standing role of the international community in supporting Somalia, particularly through technical assistance and backing for state-building efforts, but said ultimate political decisions must come from Somalis themselves.
“The international community has worked with us for many years, especially in the areas of technical assistance and support for state reconstruction, but Somali politics are determined by Somalis,” Mohamud said.
He added that his government has chosen to handle political disagreements inside the country instead of depending on discussions hosted abroad, as has happened during earlier stages of Somalia’s transition.
Mohamud also responded to a recent appeal from former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who urged him to convene talks with former Somali leaders in an effort to calm political tensions.
The president said he had not received any formal request from Farmaajo, though he said he remains in regular contact and dialogue with former national leaders.
His comments come at a time of rising political tension over elections, constitutional revisions and the strained relationship between the federal government and opposition groups.
Opposition leaders accuse the government of pressing ahead with major political decisions without sufficient consensus, while federal officials say the administration is committed to dialogue and to pushing Somalia’s transition toward direct elections.
