dialogue

Somalia: Southwest Presidency Rejects Claims of Dialogue Request with FGS After Laftagareen’s Re-election BAIDOA, Somalia — Southwest State’s presidency on Sunday moved quickly to quash reports that newly re-elected regional leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, widely known as Laftagareen, had sought formal talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The denial from Baidoa came only hours after social media posts claimed Laftagareen had contacted…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - International partners are urging dialogue and restraint as tensions rise between Mogadishu and South West State, warning that the standoff could deepen Somalia's wider federal crisis. Calls for talks reflect the same kind of settlement logic usually associated with the National Consultative Council, where federal and regional leaders are expected to negotiate high-stakes disputes rather than escalate them. At its core, the confrontation is another test of Somalia's federal system and the limits of…

Somalia’s Interior Ministry said Wednesday it is monitoring escalating tensions with Southwest State and warned that continued political friction could endanger peace and stability. In a statement, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation voiced concern about the dispute’s impact and underscored the need to uphold the constitution and the federal system of governance. “The federal government commends the people and administration of the Southwest State for their role in preserving the unity of the…

MOGADISHU — European Union Ambassador to Somalia Francesca Di Mauro hosted a Ramadan iftar at the EU diplomatic compound in Mogadishu on Monday evening, using the gathering to urge Somali leaders to revive dialogue and forge consensus as political tensions mount over elections and constitutional change. The invitation-only event drew a broad cross-section of stakeholders: senior federal government officials, political leaders, diplomats, civil society representatives and members of the media. Organizers cast the iftar as a…

MOGADISHU — The European Union ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, renewed her call for inclusive dialogue and national consensus as she hosted an iftar reception this evening at the EU diplomatic compound in Mogadishu during the holy month of Ramadan. The Mogadishu iftar brought together senior officials of the Federal Government of Somalia, political leaders from across the spectrum, representatives of civil society and the media, and members of the international community. The gathering offered a rare, neutral…

Amid Rising Stakes, Somali Leaders Open a Channel for Dialogue MOGADISHU, Somalia — A flurry of high-level meetings in Mogadishu this week has opened a tentative channel for dialogue between Somalia’s federal leadership and key regional and opposition figures, signaling cautious movement amid mounting political tensions over constitutional reforms and the 2026 elections. Late Tuesday, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre conferred behind closed doors with the presidents of Jubaland and Puntland State, two federal member states…

Somalia has unveiled a revised Labour Code designed to modernize employment relations, strengthen social dialogue and protect workers’ rights, marking a significant step in the country’s labour governance. The Federal Government formally launched the Somali Labour Code (Law No. 36, 2024) at a national ceremony in Mogadishu, positioning the law as a framework for decent work and clear responsibilities for both workers and employers. The launch at Hotel Afrik brought together a wide coalition of stakeholders, including Members…

Standoff threatens Somalia’s election talks as UN calls for urgent dialogue MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s latest push to unlock political talks on elections hit a new snag Sunday after a security dispute grounded delegations from Puntland State and Jubaland, prompting the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) to urge swift, good-faith dialogue to keep negotiations on track. In a statement posted on social media, UNTMIS said preparatory teams from the two regional states were unable to reach…

Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 Mogadishu — The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia urged the federal government and regional leaders to prioritize dialogue on elections and other national issues after a security dispute prevented advance teams from Puntland State and Jubaland from arriving in the capital for a planned consultative forum. In a brief statement posted on social media, UNTMIS said it regretted that preparatory delegations from the two semi-autonomous regions were unable to reach Mogadishu because…

NAIROBI, Kenya — The Tigray People’s Liberation Front on Saturday welcomed African Union appeals for restraint and said it is prepared to join AU-facilitated talks, as fresh clashes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region and reported drone strikes raised fears of renewed war. The TPLF, a leading opposition group that once ran the country before being displaced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, remains banned from political activity. In a letter to the AU, the party endorsed calls for “restraint and dialogue” and said it was ready…