MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has launched talks with key opposition figures amid intensifying pressure from the international community to initiate an inclusive political dialogue ahead of upcoming elections, Caasimada Online news website reported on Monday.
President Mohamud met with former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke at Villa Somalia late Sunday, signaling a shift in the government’s stance following persistent diplomatic warnings against pursuing a unilateral electoral roadmap.
According to officials, the meeting was the first step toward broader negotiations with opposition leaders aimed at defusing mounting political tensions in the capital. The engagement comes as foreign envoys in Mogadishu have reportedly conveyed to President Mohamud that any election process lacking broad consensus would not be recognized.
Speaking on Sunday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Ba’ad confirmed that President Mohamud is preparing to meet with regional leaders from Jubaland and Puntland, as well as prominent opposition figures, in a bid to forge agreement on the structure and timeline of the upcoming presidential election.
The latest developments follow a show of force by opposition figures on Friday, who mobilized a convoy of armed vehicles through central Mogadishu on their way to the Moalim Nur mosque — a symbolic venue that served as a planning hub during opposition protests against former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term extension in 2021.
President Mohamud’s meeting with Abdirashid reportedly focused on de-escalation measures and laying the groundwork for substantive political dialogue, as fears grow over potential instability if electoral disputes remain unresolved.
Diplomats have privately urged the Somali leadership to avoid repeating past political crises and instead work toward an inclusive process that ensures broad-based legitimacy for the next electoral cycle.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
