Monday August 11, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A high-stakes meeting between Somalia’s
federal government and the Opposition Salvation Forum, scheduled to open Sunday
at the Presidential Palace, has been pushed to Wednesday, August 13, after the
two sides failed to bridge deep divisions over the country’s political future.
Sources close to the talks told Hiiraan Online that the
postponement stems from internal rifts within the opposition bloc, alongside
unresolved issues requiring further direct negotiations with President Hassan
Sheikh Mohamud. The disagreements center on how to unify political positions
ahead of the 2026 elections and on whether to amend key sections of the
provisional constitution.
The talks, now heading into their fifth round, were
originally billed as an opportunity to craft a consensus roadmap for Somalia’s
next polls and to set a unified national direction. However, the president’s
decision to abandon efforts to amend Chapter 4 of the constitution — coupled
with a lack of agreement on the election model — remains a sticking point.
In the coming days, both sides are expected to hold separate
consultations to refine their strategies before reconvening. Political insiders
say the discussions have been slowed by competing visions for Somalia’s
governance, a dynamic that has often shaped the country’s turbulent post-civil
war politics.
The Opposition Salvation Forum, an alliance of political
figures and former officials, has been pressing for a clear electoral
framework, while government negotiators stress the need for political stability
before making binding commitments.
Whether Wednesday’s session will produce a breakthrough
remains uncertain, but mediators involved in the process say the stakes are
high — with the outcome likely to influence not just the next election, but the
broader trajectory of Somalia’s fragile state-building project.
