President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has invited opposition parties and civil society to a national consultative forum in Mogadishu from November 14 to 18, in an effort to break the deadlock over how Somalia’s next federal elections will be held.
The presidency said on Monday that the five-day forum will focus on federal election arrangements and aim to build a shared understanding through dialogue. Those invited include the Nabad iyo Nolol Party, the Somali Future Council, the National Unity Forum and the Civil Society Coalition.
The invitation follows weeks of tension over the timetable published earlier this month by the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. It set elections for both houses of the Federal Parliament for April 15, 2027, followed by a presidential vote on May 15.
Opposition leaders, including two former presidents and two former prime ministers, have rejected the schedule, arguing it was announced without an inclusive political agreement. Civil society groups have urged both sides to return to negotiations, warning that prolonged disagreement could destabilise the country.
Tensions rose earlier in October when troops were deployed near opposition leaders’ homes in Mogadishu, prompting warnings from the opposition that clashes could follow. It is not yet clear whether the main opposition blocs will attend the November forum.
Sources: Hiiraan Online; Horn Observer; Somali Dispatch; The Rio Times.
