Somalia opposition says open to talks if president stops constitutional changes

Somalia’s main opposition alliance said on Saturday it would take part in a government-led national dialogue after federal authorities accepted calls for broader talks aimed at resolving a prolonged dispute over elections and constitutional changes.

The Somali Future Council, an umbrella body bringing together opposition leaders and regional leaders, said its decision followed consultations held at what it described as a critical moment for the country, with the legal mandate of Somalia’s federal institutions set to expire within three months.

The announcement came after the federal government last week invited the council to attend a dialogue forum scheduled to begin on Feb. 1 in Mogadishu. The invitation followed sustained opposition demands for inclusive talks on the electoral process and proposed amendments to the provisional constitution.

Opposition leaders had gathered in the southern port city of Kismayo between Dec. 18 and 20, urging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene, by Jan. 20, a national meeting to agree on a consensual framework for electing federal institutions. Instead, the government issued a letter on Jan. 19 calling on the Somali Future Council to join the planned Mogadishu forum.

Somalia faces mounting challenges, including a resurgent Islamist insurgency, prolonged drought, economic hardship and unresolved political and constitutional disputes, the council said in their statement. It warned that continued political divisions risk weakening territorial and social cohesion, creating openings for militant groups such as al Shabaab and Islamic State to expand their influence.

“Somalia is at a dangerous crossroads that requires collective decision-making based on responsibility and political maturity,” the council said.

The opposition bloc said it agreed to participate in the talks “to avert a constitutional vacuum and to help reach an inclusive solution that safeguards statehood and national unity.” However, it stressed that President Mohamud must take concrete steps to build trust ahead of the dialogue, including an immediate halt to any unilateral amendments to the 2012 provisional constitution.

The council also called for the dialogue agenda to prioritise security, particularly the fight against al Shabaab and Islamic State, agreement on an “electoral process for federal institutions,” preservation of “national unity,” and urgent measures to address the country’s worsening drought.

Somalia’s political crisis deepened in late 2025 amid an election deadlock, as federal institutions approach the end of their mandate in May 2026 without an agreed electoral framework. Disputes persist over whether elections should be held through direct voting or continue under the indirect clan-based system, as well as over who should oversee the process, the federal government or the member states.

Opposition leaders and several regional administrations including the leaders of Jubbaland and Puntland have warned that unilateral constitutional changes and a lack of consensus risk fragmentation and the emergence of parallel governance structures.

The federal government has framed the upcoming talks as an effort to build consensus and prevent a constitutional vacuum, while addressing security threats, and political uncertainty. International partners, including the European Union and donor countries, have urged Somali leaders to compromise, warning that prolonged deadlock could further destabilize the country and undermine external support.

Although similar talks between the government and opposition have collapsed in the past, the upcoming dialogue is expected to focus on the electoral model and preparations for the 2026 elections. Whether the discussions can deliver a durable agreement remains uncertain.