Somalia’s government seeks talks with opposition alliance on elections, national policy

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has invited the Somali Future Council, a leading opposition alliance, to a multi-day national conference in Mogadishu beginning Feb. 1, aiming to speed up talks on the country’s political direction with a particular focus on the electoral roadmap.

The invitation, issued late Monday by the Office of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, signals a tentative step toward dialogue amid rising tensions over electoral rules and the broader governance framework. The move follows President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s pledge to launch a broad national consultation process as pressure mounts to reach consensus ahead of upcoming elections.

According to the government statement, the conference will center on strengthening national unity and social cohesion, supporting a democratic process grounded in consultation and compromise, and ensuring citizens’ voices play a central role in shaping Somalia’s future.

Arrangements for the talks will be overseen by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hassan Moallim. The Somali Future Council is expected to appoint its own representatives to help unify the agenda, with both sides working toward structured discussions, officials said.

Authorities confirmed the meeting will be held in Mogadishu, run for several days and formally open on Feb. 1.

The overture comes weeks after the Somali Future Council convened an opposition conference in Kismayo, where participants called on the federal government to initiate talks before Jan. 20 to address the electoral process, timelines and mechanisms for a political agreement acceptable to all stakeholders.

Opposition figures have warned that delays or unilateral decisions could deepen political divisions and risk instability. The federal government has insisted that dialogue is the preferred path to settle differences over how and when to vote and how power is shared across Somalia’s federal system.

The negotiations are expected to grapple with several unresolved issues that have repeatedly tested Somalia’s political system:

• Electoral model — clarifying how representatives are chosen and how inclusive the process will be.
• Timelines — setting realistic, mutually agreed milestones to avoid the delays that marred past cycles.
• Power balance — defining roles and authorities between Mogadishu and regional states within the federal framework.
• Dispute resolution — establishing mechanisms to head off institutional deadlock or political confrontation.

Somalia is navigating a critical juncture as it seeks to move toward a more inclusive electoral system while managing friction between federal authorities, regional administrations and opposition groups. Recent election cycles have been marked by delays, disagreements and fragile compromises that left institutions under strain and public confidence tenuous.

Monday’s invitation suggests a cautious attempt to lower the temperature and reopen channels of communication. Whether the talks succeed will depend on both sides’ willingness to translate calls for consultation into concrete agreements on electoral rules and timelines — and on ensuring that regional administrations and other stakeholders feel genuinely represented in any deal.

For now, the planned Mogadishu conference gives Somalia a near-term venue to test that commitment. The government’s outreach to the Somali Future Council introduces a structured process that, if sustained, could narrow the gap over the electoral roadmap. But the depth of the disagreements means progress will likely be incremental, and the durability of any accord will hinge on broad buy-in and consistent follow-through after the conference closes.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.