Somali Government Calls for Talks With Opposition Alliance

Abdiasis Farah Said, Mogadishu, Somalia

Mogadishu, January 19, 2026 — Somalia’s federal government on Sunday invited the Council of Somalia’s Future, an opposition political alliance, to take part in a national consultative meeting in Mogadishu on February 1, as political tensions continue over the country’s electoral process.The invitation was announced by the Office of the Prime Minister following a proposal by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Officials said the talks are intended to ease disagreements between the government and opposition figures as the country approaches the end of the president’s current term on May 15, 2026.According to the government, the meeting will focus on resolving election-related disputes and strengthening national unity, particularly in response to what it described as Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland — a self-declared region that Somalia considers an integral part of its sovereign territory.Federal officials said the government wants all political leaders, including the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland, to align with Mogadishu in defending Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity. They stressed that the Somaliland issue requires a unified national position that goes beyond internal political rivalries.The Council of Somalia’s Future was formed several months ago by opposition presidential candidates who accuse the government of preparing to extend the president’s mandate beyond constitutional limits. The alliance includes opposition figures based in Mogadishu, as well as the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland.Uncertainty remains over whether the regional leaders will attend the planned meeting. Political analysts note that both the Puntland and Jubaland presidents are widely regarded as close to the United Arab Emirates, at a time when relations between Somalia’s federal government and the UAE have sharply deteriorated.The Somali government recently withdrew from all agreements with the UAE and ordered Emirati diplomats to leave the country, accusing Abu Dhabi of backing efforts by Somaliland to gain international recognition, including from Israel.According to regional sources, the president of Puntland left for the UAE on the same day the Somali government announced the withdrawal from all bilateral agreements with Abu Dhabi. He has remained there since, though some sources say he may return to Puntland as early as Tuesday. No official confirmation has been issued.President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has repeatedly pointed to recent electoral reforms as evidence of his commitment to democratic transition. Last year, his administration oversaw a one-person, one-vote election for Mogadishu’s city council — the first public vote of its kind in the capital since 1969.However, rumors persist within political circles that the president may seek a short-term extension of his mandate to allow time for organizing a nationwide one-person, one-vote general election. The government has not formally commented on those claims.Officials said the planned consultations are part of broader efforts to reduce political tensions through dialogue and to safeguard stability during a sensitive political transition period.