Western Embassies press Somalia’s Leaders to end election deadlock

Members of the international community on Monday urged Somali leaders to resume dialogue and agree on an electoral roadmap, warning against actions that could escalate political tensions.

A number of diplomatic missions and international partners, including the European Union delegation, the British Embassy in Mogadishu, the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, and the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia, released a joint statement expressing concern over the current political situation in Somalia. They called on all sides to “swiftly reach consensus on an election roadmap in the interest of the Somali people.”

“The international community stands ready to assist in Somali-led talks, should they be requested,” the statement said. The embassies urged Somali leaders to prioritise the national interest “in this delicate moment” and refrain from steps that could heighten tensions.

The statement came after opposition groups announced last week that they would hold protests in Mogadishu on June 4.

A previously planned protest on May 10, one week before the current administration’s mandate under the provisional constitution was due to expire, ended in confrontation after security forces deployed heavily across parts of the capital. Troops and armoured vehicles were positioned in key areas, while opposition leaders accused the government of using state security forces to prevent peaceful demonstrations. Among those who criticised the government was former president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who said the authorities were attempting to suppress legitimate political expression.

The latest call by international partners also follows the collapse of talks between the federal government and opposition figures. Those talks, brokered by members of the international community, were intended to ease tensions and create a path toward consensus on elections. Instead, they ended without agreement, adding to a series of failed discussions between the two sides.

Opposition leaders accuse the government of unilaterally changing the constitution and illegally extending its mandate. Shortly after the talks collapsed, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that the new constitution pushed by his administration was now in effect. The document remains controversial, with opposition figures and some federal member states rejecting it. One of the most disputed provisions is the extension of the presidential term from four years to five years. President Mohamud was elected under the provisional constitution, which provides for a four-year mandate. The president had previously indicated that the new constitutional framework would apply from the next term.

The dispute has left Somalia in an unusual position. The federal government’s mandate, according to the opposition’s reading of the provisional constitution, has expired. Yet the administration continues to organise and support elections in parts of the country under the new framework.

One of the most contentious cases is South West State, where the federal government has continued to push ahead with elections after the regional president was forcibly removed from office. A new parliament was elected in Baidoa and sworn in this week, but the process remains disputed. The city has also seen clashes after forces loyal to the ousted president launched an attack. The federal government blamed the violence on al-Shabaab.

The situation in Galmudug State is also uncertain. The federal government is pressing ahead with elections there, while incumbent president Ahmed Abdi Kariye, widely known as Qoorqoor, has made clear that he intends to seek re-election. Reports of troop mobilisation in and around the state capital have raised concerns about the direction of the process and the risk of further confrontation.

The international community’s latest appeal urges Somali leaders to reach consensus on elections and avoid further escalation. But it remains unclear whether such pressure can break the deadlock. Both the government and the opposition remain firmly committed to their positions, and repeated attempts at dialogue have failed to produce a political settlement.