MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting has been postponed for the second time in less than a week, deepening political tensions as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pushes forward with a contentious plan to consolidate power through a new political party.
Originally set for May 2 and later rescheduled to May 5, the talks were derailed as key federal member states — Puntland, Jubaland, and most recently Southwest — boycotted the process.
A political party, reportedly being engineered by President Mohamud, is expected to feature the president as its flagbearer in the 2026 election, with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre designated as chairman and MP Abdirahman Odowa as secretary. Southwest state, which had initially aligned with the president, was promised the deputy chairmanship — a role it now deems symbolic and insufficient, accusing the party of being dominated by a single clan with disproportionate influence over the federal government.
While Galmudug and Hirshabelle remain engaged in dialogue with the presidency, frustrations are growing over the president’s decision to prioritize party-building over inclusive national consultations. Political analysts warn that this shift threatens to erode the role of the NCC, a platform designed to foster consensus between the federal government and the five regional states on critical national issues, including the electoral process and security.
President Mohamud has been vocal about transitioning Somalia to a one-person, one-vote electoral system — a dramatic shift from the indirect clan-based model that has governed previous elections. However, with less than a year remaining before the presidential polls, skepticism is mounting over the feasibility of such reforms.
Former intelligence chief Fahad Yasin, a prominent critic of the president, said the plan is politically untenable and logistically unrealistic.
Mohamud is attempting to move a mountain with bare hands. He will be forced, like his predecessor, to revert to the indirect model, Yasin said, referencing the 2022 pre-election impasse that ultimately led to an indirect vote.
The ongoing political standoff raises fresh concerns over Somalia’s electoral preparedness and the cohesion of its federal system. With key states pulling back and the NCC in disarray, the path to 2026 remains fraught with uncertainty.
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