Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Seeks Regional Allies Ahead of Federal Election Talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is quietly preparing to push elections ahead in three allied regional states before opening broader talks on Somalia’s federal vote, according to sources close to his political circle.

During a private meeting earlier this week with three of his main political allies, the president reportedly laid out a plan to first lock in leadership in Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, and Southwest State. Sources said it was the second time in recent weeks that Mohamud has advanced the same phased approach to breaking the country’s long-running electoral impasse.

Participants in the meeting said Mohamud told them he would only turn to federal-level negotiations on the national election framework after those regional processes are completed. At that point, he reportedly said, he would consult stakeholders who claim legal authority over the federal process.

According to those present, the president also pushed back against the involvement of other senior politicians from the same sub-clans in the election discussions for Galmudug and Hirshabeelle. He is said to have argued that he alone holds decisive influence over those administrations and described himself as the central force behind their current political structures.

People familiar with the president’s team said the broader aim is to ensure that regional leaders elected in those three states remain firmly aligned with his camp. By tightening control in Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, and Southwest State, Mohamud’s allies hope to enter national negotiations with a stronger position and shape the terms of the next federal elections.

The strategy reflects a high-risk bid to consolidate political leverage ahead of what is expected to be a contentious debate over Somalia’s federal electoral model.

AXADLETM