MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition alliance, the Somali Future Council, announced on Friday that it will convene a major political summit on April 10. The high-stakes gathering will bring together a diverse coalition of political leaders to determine their next course of action following the collapse of electoral talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Exhausted Negotiations
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a prominent figure within the council, stated that all viable options for engaging President Mohamud in sincere, productive negotiations have been completely exhausted. With the incumbent’s constitutional mandate set to conclude in May, the council declared its intention to pursue alternative strategic measures to safeguard the country’s democratic transition, citing the president’s staunch unwillingness to compromise.
Puntland State leader Saeed Abdullahi Deni, another key architect of the opposition bloc, demanded an immediate end to further talks, dismissing them as futile. Deni sharply criticized President Mohamud for maintaining an inflexible and detached stance during crucial national discussions, effectively closing the door on any immediate political reconciliation.
Fears of Security Setbacks
This decisive declaration follows the recent breakdown of mediated dialogues between the Future Council and the Federal Government, which had been proceeding under intense scrutiny from international partners.
Regional analysts and security experts have raised severe alarms over the enduring political deadlock. Observers warn that the escalating constitutional crisis threatens to severely distract from and undermine Somalia’s unified military offensives against Al-Shabaab, while critically impeding the fragile advancements made in the nation’s broader state-building initiatives.
