MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s opposition has warned it may hold elections for a parallel government if President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud fails to convene urgent talks to resolve the ongoing electoral deadlock.
The warning came after a three-day meeting in the coastal city of Kismayo, attended by former presidents, prime ministers, presidential candidates, and the current leaders of Puntland and Jubaland states.
In a communique released on Saturday, the opposition accused the president of failing in his constitutional duties, undermining the military, and neglecting the fight against the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.
The communique further alleges that President Hassan has misappropriated public land for personal gain and made unilateral amendments to the 2012 Provisional Constitution, which the opposition declared “null and void.”
Key points outlined in the Kismayo declaration include:
- Parliamentary and presidential mandates end on 14 April 2026 and 15 May 2026, respectively. Any attempt to extend these mandates without consensus could create a constitutional vacuum and trigger political instability.
- National elections must take place on time, be more credible than the 2022 polls, and be administered by an election commission agreed upon by all stakeholders.
- The 2012 Provisional Constitution remains the sole legal foundation of Somalia’s state-building, and any unilateral amendments by the president are invalid.
- President Hassan has been given a one-month deadline, until 20 January 2026, to convene political stakeholders to agree on an inclusive electoral process.
- Federal Member State leaders whose mandates have expired are expected to conduct their own elections according to their constitutions and electoral laws.
- If the president fails to act, the opposition reserves the right to pursue alternative arrangements to prevent a constitutional crisis and a breakdown of security.
- The opposition rejected the election process in Mogadishu, describing it as unconstitutional, one-sided, and illegitimate due to the unresolved legal status of the capital.
The leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, who participated in the Kismayo conference, pledged to implement the measures outlined in the communique.
Somalia has faced repeated political standoffs in recent years, often delaying elections and threatening stability in a country still grappling with Al-Shabaab insurgency and state fragility.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
