Somali Future Council says government talks collapse as election deadlines loom
Opposition bloc alleges unilateral constitutional changes, exclusion of MPs, and pressure tactics; seeks electoral pact by April 14
- Advertisement -
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council said Monday that its high-level negotiations with the federal government ended without agreement, raising the stakes as mandates for federal institutions expire in three months.
The talks, held over several days at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, focused on elections and constitutional reform — two issues that have long shaped the country’s fragile political compact. In a statement, the council said it entered the talks to avert uncertainty and secure a negotiated, timely electoral process before the end of the current term.
The council accused the government of pressing ahead with unilateral amendments to the 2012 Provisional Constitution and of barring more than 50 members of parliament from attending sessions. It also alleged intimidation and security pressure against its members alongside defamatory media campaigns. The federal government has said the constitutional review will proceed, but it has not issued detailed remarks on Monday’s outcome.
The Future Council reiterated that the 2012 Provisional Constitution remains the legal basis of the Somali state and argued any changes require national consensus and public consultation that protects the balance of federal powers. “The Future Council made it clear that it would not allow ‘a constitutional amendment, a snap election, or an extension of the term,’” the statement said, casting the alliance as defending the constitution, federalism and negotiated elections.
State-level elections were another flashpoint. The council said polls in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest should be held in line with state constitutions and federal principles. It pushed for indirect elections in those three states, mirroring recent votes in Puntland State and Jubbaland. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signaled a preference for advancing toward a one-person, one-vote system over time and has maintained that state elections are administered by state leadership structures.
The opposition also demanded a political agreement by April 14 on the process, timetable and administration of Federal Parliament elections. It called for a transparent and inclusive electoral model, while the government has promoted direct elections as the preferred long-term solution.
Key points from the failed talks:
- Constitutional review: Opposition says amendments require national consensus; government says review proceeds.
- Parliament access: Council alleges more than 50 MPs were blocked from sessions and members faced pressure.
- State-level polls: Council backs indirect elections in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest; government emphasizes state prerogatives and eventual direct voting.
- Federal elections: Council seeks a binding agreement by April 14 on timelines and administration to avoid delays or extensions.
Despite the breakdown, the council said it remains open to “genuine and fruitful dialogue” to reach an electoral agreement before the constitutional clock runs out and to halt unilateral constitutional changes. Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, a Future Council member, returned to Kismayo following the announcement — a signal that the latest round of shuttle diplomacy has paused without a roadmap.
The government has indicated further engagement remains possible, though no new dates were announced. With the political calendar tightening, both sides face pressure from domestic constituencies and international partners to narrow differences on the constitutional review and agree on a credible path to federal and state-level elections.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
