Mogadishu negotiations bring together President Hassan Sheikh, opposition leaders, Puntland and Jubaland amid election disputes.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Horn post) International diplomats based in Mogadishu’s heavily fortified Halane compound have stepped up mediation efforts between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders as political tensions over elections and constitutional reforms continue to deepen.
The high-level talks brought together Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama representing the federal government, while opposition figures included former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed alongside leaders linked to Puntland and Jubaland administrations.
Diplomats from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and the United Nations reportedly facilitated the negotiations inside the Halane diplomatic enclave near Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
The meetings come amid an escalating political standoff between the Somali federal government and opposition groups over proposed constitutional amendments and the country’s electoral model ahead of future elections.
Opposition leaders and regional administrations, particularly Puntland and Jubaland, have accused the federal government of pushing unilateral political changes without broadening national consensus. Critics say the dispute risks undermining Somalia’s fragile federal system and could trigger further political instability.
Sources familiar with the talks said opposition representatives demanded confidence-building measures, including the release of political detainees, before substantive negotiations could proceed. Reports indicate government officials showed willingness to discuss some of the demands during the initial sessions.
Despite the rare direct engagement between rival Somali political camps, the latest round of negotiations reportedly concluded without a final agreement, with disagreements remaining over election management mechanisms and constitutional reform proposals.
Political analysts say the mediation effort represents one of the most significant attempts in recent years to prevent a wider political breakdown in Somalia, which continues to face security threats from the militant group Al-Shabaab while navigating fragile state-building efforts.
The international community has repeatedly urged Somali leaders to resolve political disputes through dialogue and consensus to avoid renewed instability in the Horn of Africa nation.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
News Deska Hargeisa
