Sunday August 10, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
will meet opposition leaders at Villa Somalia on Sunday for high-stakes talks
aimed at resolving disputes over constitutional amendments and the country’s
2026 elections.
The opposition has criticized recent changes to the
Transitional Constitution, arguing that they were made without inclusive
consultation and risk undermining confidence in the political process. The
fiercest debate centers on Chapter 4 of the document.
The government favors a nationwide one-person, one-vote
model in 2026, while the opposition insists that improved security and a
consensus-based framework must be in place first.
President Hassan Sheikh has called for unity in confronting
terrorism—particularly the threat from al-Shabaab—and signaled a willingness to
compromise to achieve a negotiated electoral roadmap.
While no final agreement is expected from Sunday’s meeting,
the renewed dialogue is seen as a crucial step toward stabilizing Somalia’s
political climate and fostering cooperation between rival factions.