Wednesday May 20, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s main opposition bloc said Tuesday it will hold weekly protests in Mogadishu starting June 4 to pressure the federal government after talks failed to resolve a dispute over the country’s electoral process.
The Somali Salvation Council said the demonstrations will be held every Thursday until a political agreement is reached on elections. Opposition leaders described the rallies as peaceful and called on residents of the capital to take part after the Eid holiday.
“The terms of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the federal government and parliament had expired, Sharif said. He argued that any election held without broad political agreement could not be fully legitimate.
He said efforts last week to reach a deal on election issues had failed, adding that elections should not be managed by one side alone. He said political actors must agree on electoral committees, procedures and the timing of the vote.
Sharif also criticized recent elections in Mogadishu and Baidoa, saying they reflected the corruption and political division that can emerge when elections are held without consensus.
He accused the government of deploying troops to areas facing both armed conflict and political tension, saying the decision had contributed to the deaths of soldiers and military officers.
Abdirahman Abdishakur said Mohamud should now be regarded as a “former president,” arguing that his constitutional term had ended. He urged Mogadishu residents to join the planned demonstrations and said the opposition would continue public pressure until an agreement is reached.
The federal government has rejected opposition claims that Mohamud’s mandate has expired. Officials say constitutional amendments approved by parliament extended federal institutions by one year and changed the presidential term from four years to five, making the current mandate run until May 15, 2027.
The opposition rejects those amendments, saying they were passed without broad political consensus and cannot be used to extend the president’s rule.
The dispute has intensified since three days of talks between the government and opposition leaders in Mogadishu ended without agreement. The talks focused on the electoral model, constitutional changes and the political transition.
International partners, including the United Nations, African Union and IGAD, have urged Somali leaders to resume dialogue, avoid escalation and seek an inclusive political agreement.
Federal officials say Somalia must move toward one-person, one-vote elections to expand public participation and end the indirect voting system. Opposition leaders say any direct election model must be based on political consensus, credible institutions and agreement with federal member states.
