MOGADISHU — Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, has rejected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s upcoming national dialogue sessions scheduled for June 15 and 22, accusing the presidency of failing to secure broad political consensus.
In a statement released Monday, the Forum criticized the proposed talks for lacking transparency and inclusiveness, and reiterated its call for a genuinely representative national platform to address the country’s escalating political crisis.
“The Forum has consistently advocated for unity and national solidarity,” the statement read. “Somalia must be protected from political uncertainty and fragmentation.” It also emphasized the need for unified national institutions to combat al-Shabaab and other militant threats, which it described as existential dangers to “our religion, our country, and our government.”
President Mohamud has invited political stakeholders to a national consultation forum in Mogadishu to discuss five core issues: national security and counterterrorism, democratization, the electoral process, finalization of the provisional constitution, and national unity and reconciliation.
However, opposition leaders have dismissed the initiative as insincere, arguing that the presidency has not released a clear agenda or provided assurances about how different political factions will be included. They contend that key stakeholders, including federal member state leaders and major opposition parties, were excluded from the planning process.
The criticism follows escalating tensions between the federal government and regional states. Puntland and Jubbaland, two influential federal member states, have recently suspended cooperation with Mogadishu over unresolved disputes on power-sharing and governance.
The Somali Salvation Forum called on the federal government to initiate a fully inclusive national dialogue that involves all federal member states, opposition coalitions, and other key actors. They warned that the exclusionary approach risks deepening political divisions at a time when national unity is urgently needed.
The Forum also condemned the exclusion of Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe from the upcoming talks. The federal government has refused to recognize his recent re-election, further straining relations and fueling mistrust among opposition leaders.
President Mohamud’s invitation reportedly included select junior politicians and representatives from disputed election parties, a move the opposition dismissed as symbolic and politically motivated.
The country remains mired in a prolonged political deadlock, with delays in the electoral process and unresolved constitutional reforms contributing to rising instability. Analysts warn that without an inclusive political settlement, Somalia’s fragile federal system may continue to unravel.
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