EU calls it “shame,” UN expresses “regret” over Somalia national dialogue setback

Somalia’s long-anticipated national consultative dialogue, meant to bring together the federal government, opposition leaders, and regional state presidents, suffered an early setback on Sunday after a dispute over security arrangements derailed preparations for the meeting in Mogadishu.

The talks were expected to focus on two of the country’s most contentious issues, the electoral model and constitutional reforms. However, tensions escalated when Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland President Ahmed Islam Madobe sought to travel to Mogadishu with armed escort. The federal government blocked flights carrying the troops and weapons.

Both Puntland and Jubbaland issued statements condemning the move, arguing that it endangered lives and violated prior agreements reached between the Somalia Future Council and federal technical teams. The two administrations accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of intentionally obstructing the consultative forum and called on Somali political stakeholders and international partners to intervene. Jubbaland said it was “profoundly disappointed” by the decision to turn back its delegation’s aircraft without verifying its fuel capacity, warning that the action placed passengers at serious risk. The administration further claimed that civilian flights were also denied entry into Mogadishu’s airspace, describing the situation as chaotic and dangerous.

In response, the Federal Government of Somalia said it had acted within its mandate to safeguard national security. In a statement issued Sunday, officials cited previously approved resolutions that establish strict protocols for securing Aden Adde International Airport and the capital. The government said these measures have contributed to the relative stability in Mogadishu and stressed that the attempted transport of weapons “violated established security procedures’ observed by senior federal and regional leaders.

According to the statement, security agencies and the conference organizing committee “formally informed” the delegations that bringing armed forces and weapons into the capital without following legal procedures was “unacceptable.”

The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) said it regretted that advance teams from Puntland and Jubbaland were unable to arrive for the forum after “the necessary technical clearances were not granted.”

“We strongly encourage all sides to prioritize the agreed dialogue forum to reach consensus on elections and other national issues ahead of the upcoming end of constitutional mandates,” UNTMIS said, urging Somali leaders to create conditions conducive to meaningful dialogue.

The European Union also expressed concern, calling it “a shame” that the Puntland and Jubbaland delegations could not travel to Mogadishu. “Whatever the misunderstanding, the EU hopes that all sides will find a solution for this key dialogue to happen and establish a conducive environment for substantive discussions leading to a way forward on elections,” the EU mission in Somalia said.

The setback comes amid renewed political tensions, as the federal government has proceeded with approving constitutional amendments despite repeated objections from opposition groups and concerns raised by the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia and the European Union.

Critics argue that the amendments are being advanced without sufficient consensus or transparency. Similar efforts during the previous parliamentary session descended into chaos, with heated debates spiraling into disorder and resulting in the suspension of several opposition lawmakers. Today, reports indicated that parliament once again descended into turmoil and chaos as the government pushed ahead with its constitutional changes agenda. Heavy police deployments surrounded the parliamentary compound in an effort to contain unrest and maintain order, reflecting both the Hassan Mahmoud’s determination to proceed and the widening disagreement between the government and opposition factions.