Tuesday May 5, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali Future Council has expressed skepticism over a consultation meeting proposed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying it has yet to decide whether to participate.
Former MP Abdirahman Dheere, speaking on behalf of the opposition group, said the council is still reviewing the invitation and has not reached a final position.
He added that recent meetings held by the council are part of broader efforts to develop an alternative electoral framework, which they plan to present to the Somali public.
Dheere noted that internal consultations are ongoing and that the council is expected in the coming days to announce both its proposed electoral model and its formal response to the president’s invitation.
President Hassan Sheikh recently invited the Somali Future Council to attend a high-level meeting scheduled for May 10 in Mogadishu. The presidency said the initiative followed consultations with various sectors of society and would focus on key national priorities, including the country’s political future and electoral process.
The proposed talks have received backing from international partners. The United Nations, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have all welcomed the initiative and urged both the federal government and opposition groups to engage in dialogue and reach consensus on resolving their differences.
The developments come amid rising political tensions ahead of the expiration of the president’s term on May 15, with no agreement yet reached on the electoral model or timeline.
