Sunday May 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has invited members of the Somali Future Council to attend a high-level meeting in Mogadishu on May 10, 2026, as political tensions escalate ahead of the end of his term.
In a statement issued Saturday, the presidency said the invitation follows recent consultations the president held with various segments of society. The upcoming meeting is expected to address key national priorities, including the country’s political future and electoral process.
President Hassan Sheikh emphasized the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and compromise to ensure meaningful outcomes from the talks.
“The Federal Government is committed to building a political system based on unity, consensus, and the protection of the country’s sovereignty and independence,” the statement said.
The invitation comes with less than two weeks remaining before the president’s official current term is set to expire on May 15, with no agreement yet reached on the electoral model or timeline.
It remains unclear whether opposition groups will accept the invitation. Previous talks have failed, with opposition leaders accusing the president of attempting to delay elections.
Earlier on Saturday, opposition figures announced they would present within a week a proposed electoral model that would differ from both indirect voting and the one-person, one-vote system.
The opposition has reiterated its rejection of any extension of power beyond constitutional limits and warned against unilateral electoral processes.
“The constitutional term of the President ends on May 15, 2026. After that date, we will recognize him as an ordinary citizen,” opposition leaders said during a press conference in Mogadishu. “We will pursue peaceful resistance, public mobilization, and national dialogue to prevent a constitutional vacuum and establish a legitimate government that reflects the will of the people.”
The developments come amid heightened political tensions following the president’s signing of a revised federal constitution, which introduces five-year terms for federal institutions, replacing the four-year mandate under the 2012 provisional constitution.
Opposition groups have rejected the revised constitution, citing a lack of consensus and maintaining that the 2012 framework remains the legitimate legal basis for governance.
