KISMAYO, Somalia – Members of the Somali opposition coalition, Somali Salvation Forum, convened a private session in Mogadishu on Wednesday evening to address the nation’s political landscape, with special focus on impending elections and the upcoming Jubbaland conference.
According to reliable sources familiar with the proceedings, coalition representatives resolved to engage fully in the Jubbaland administration’s conference, citing its potential to break the nation’s political impasse.
The opposition members further committed to traveling to Kismayo on December 17 for the extensively planned conference, an event drawing significant attention from regional and national observers.
Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe contributed remotely to the dialogue by joining via telephone.
Legislators from both parliamentary chambers, academic experts, and civil society representatives are anticipated to participate thereby guaranteeing diverse viewpoints in the discussions.
The primary objective of the summit is to establish a common vision among Somali stakeholders and formulate a clear, workable electoral system, building upon previous attempts to settle political disagreements.
The Kismayo meeting is projected to be the most extensive opposition-coordinated conference thus far. It represents a joint initiative by Jubbaland, Puntland, and the opposition coalition within the Somali Future Council whose intentions include the incorporation of additional political figures beyond council membership.
This forum emerges as tensions escalate regarding the federal government’s push for one-person, one-vote elections, a policy the opposition has publicly rejected.
