Mogadishu: Forum of Horn Vision "HAPC"Date: May 15, 2026
Negotiations held, Wednesday in Mogadishu, between the Somali Federal Government and opposition leaders ended without an agreement to resolve their differences regarding the electoral process, despite efforts to bridge the gaps, each side’s adherence to its position prevented a concrete agreement.
Details of the Meeting and International Participation :
Participants in the meeting : The government side was represented by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Ahmed Jama, while the opposition delegation was led by the President of Puntland State , Saeed Abdullahi Deni, and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
The international role : The opening of the meeting witnessed a diplomatic presence from United States and British embassies to facilitate the start of the talks, before the diplomats left to leave space for the Somali leaders to engage in direct discussion .
Main Points of Contention:
The gap between the two sides centered on the electoral mechanism; the federal government insisted on the ” one person, one vote ” model , which it had begun implementing in certain areas, while the opposition, from its perspective, demanded that discussions be opened on outstanding electoral issues, despite the lack of agreement, both sides agreed to continue the talks in another meeting.
Escalation in the Streets :
In parallel with the deteriorating political situation, the field situation is witnessing an escalation by the opposition, taking the following forms:
One of the meetings of Somali opposition leaders
Calls for protests: The opposition announced its intention to organize a mass demonstration in Mogadishu on May 16.
Accusations against the government: The opposition accuses the authorities of using force to suppress demonstrators and obstructing previous events, the latest of which was an attempted demonstration on May 10 that was prevented by the security services.
The Rescue Forum’s Position: The Somali Rescue Forum affirmed the continuation of the ” peaceful struggle ” against what it described as the abuse of power, the forced displacement of the population, and the seizure of land.
