MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Four prominent political figures have resigned from Somalia’s Salvation Forum, dealing a significant setback to opposition efforts aimed at countering President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s push for a unilateral electoral process.
Former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, ex-parliamentary speakers Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and Mohamed Mursal, along with former ambassador Dahir Mohamud Gelle, announced their departure from the opposition umbrella group on Saturday. The four did not provide reasons for their decision but stated they intend to form a new political party.
Their exit comes amid escalating tensions over the president’s controversial plans to hold a one-person, one-vote election – an initiative critics say lacks national consensus and could further destabilize the country. The four men, who have long been suspected of leaning toward President Mohamud’s position, had reportedly obstructed efforts within the Salvation Forum to issue a joint statement declaring the collapse of talks with the president.
Their departure is widely viewed as a strategic win for President Mohamud, reinforcing his recent claims that the opposition is fragmented and lacks a coherent stance. Speaking on Thursday, the president dismissed the unity of the Salvation Forum, saying its members “never agreed on anything,” even during his own tenure within the group prior to the 2022 elections.
Local media reports suggest the resignations may have been orchestrated by the president to sow discord within the opposition ranks, leaving him with minimal organized resistance as he pushes forward with his electoral agenda.
However, opposition leaders have vowed to regroup. Key figures still within the Salvation Forum – including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, ex-Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Mohamed Hussein Roble, as well as member of parliament Abdirahman Abdishakur – are reportedly planning to launch a new coalition of presidential candidates. The initiative aims to broaden the opposition base and unite diverse political actors around a shared goal of ensuring an open and inclusive electoral process, possibly through an indirect voting system.
Despite these efforts, President Mohamud continues to face significant logistical and political challenges. His administration maintains control primarily in Mogadishu and a few federal member states – Hirshabelle, Southwest, Galmudug, and the newly declared Northeastern State. Other regions, including Puntland, Jubaland, and areas under the control of al-Shabaab militants, remain largely inaccessible to federal electoral authorities.
The political landscape remains volatile as the country edges closer to a highly contentious election, with questions mounting over legitimacy, security, and national cohesion.
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