Talks Between Somalia’s Federal Government and Future Council End Without Agreement

Talks Between Somalia’s Federal Government and Future Council End Without Agreement

High-level negotiations between the Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition-aligned Future Council have concluded without a final agreement. The talks, held at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, came at a critical time as the mandates of federal institutions are set to expire in three months.

The discussions focused primarily on elections and constitutional reform. The Future Council stated that it entered the negotiations aiming to prevent political uncertainty and secure a negotiated electoral process before the current term ends. However, the council accused the government of pursuing unilateral constitutional amendments and restricting more than 50 members of parliament from attending parliamentary sessions.

The opposition reaffirmed that the 2012 Provisional Constitution remains the country’s legal foundation and argued that any amendments require broad national consensus and genuine public consultation. The federal government, on the other hand, has indicated that the constitutional review process will continue.

State-level elections in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and Southwest were another key point of contention. The council advocates for indirect elections in these states, similar to those recently conducted in Puntland and Jubbaland. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signaled his preference for eventually moving toward a one-person, one-vote system, maintaining that state elections fall under the authority of respective state leadership structures.

Additionally, the council called for a political agreement before April 14 to determine the process, timeline, and administration of Federal Parliament elections. Despite the breakdown in talks, the Future Council expressed willingness to continue “genuine and fruitful dialogue.” Meanwhile, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe returned to Kismayo following the announcement, underscoring the complexity and sensitivity of Somalia’s current political landscape.