Kismayo, Jubbaland – Somalia’s opposition parties will convene a major gathering in Kismayo in December 2025 to address the 2026 election strategy and proposed constitutional amendments, officials announced Monday. These topics form the core of the nation’s persistent political disputes.
The assembly will offer opposition figures and leaders from Jubbaland and Puntland a chance to voice their positions on the voting system, constitutional updates, and power-sharing in the government.
The talks arise amid rising tensions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, which seeks to conduct the country’s first direct one-person-one-vote election in over 50 years.
Political insiders noted that the Kismayo summit will act as a vital arena for policy and tactics discussions, with any resolutions potentially affecting the overall election timeline and constitutional rollout across Somalia.
Experts caution that disputes over elections and the constitution risk widening political divides, as the federal government and opposition hold firm to their views. Agreements from the meeting could yield short-term fixes to build trust in state bodies and safeguard election fairness.
Somalis and the international community are observing the Kismayo event closely, expecting it to advance political talks and curb the escalation of the country’s ongoing political challenges.
