Mogadishu, Somalia – Political tensions in Somalia deepened on Wednesday after a high-level meeting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and key opposition presidential contenders ended without agreement on the framework for the 2026 elections or the fate of disputed constitutional amendments.
What was meant to be a decisive step forward instead turned into a fresh round of finger-pointing, with government officials accusing their rivals of deliberately stalling progress, while opposition figures denounced what they called the administration’s “pick-and-choose” approach to dialogue.
Multiple sources familiar with the talks told reporters that the discussions in Mogadishu were “highly charged” and made little headway. One participant described the atmosphere as “politely tense,” warning that “the doors of negotiation are on the verge of closing.”
The stalemate raises fears that Somalia’s already fragile political climate could slide into deeper confrontation, potentially derailing preparations for the next presidential race. Analysts say the inability to agree on election rules and constitutional changes risks repeating past cycles of political crisis, distracting from urgent security and economic priorities.
With neither side showing signs of compromise, it remains unclear whether fresh mediation efforts will be launched — or if this week’s breakdown marks the start of a prolonged impasse in Somalia’s political calendar.