No Breakthrough in Villa Somalia Talks as Constitutional Dispute Persists

Talks between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Forum for National Salvation, led by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, concluded on Thursday at Villa Somalia without a breakthrough on a critical constitutional issue.

“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened the second round of National Consultative Dialogue with political opposition groups at the Presidential Palace, Villa Somalia.
Following cordial discussions, all parties agreed to continue discussions on the pre-agreed agendas. The next round of meetings is scheduled to be held on the 20th of July, 2025.” Read a brief statement by Villa Somalia avoiding to mention any stalemate or consensus.

The main sticking point remains Chapter Four of the constitutional amendment, which the opposition is reportedly urging to be removed and replaced with the original version. Insiders say the disagreement centers on issues of governance structure and power distribution under the proposed amendment.

The opposition bloc has also reiterated its call for a direct presidential election by the public, replacing the current system where the president is elected by Parliament. The group argues that direct elections would ensure broader democratic representation and legitimacy.

Despite the stalemate, both parties issued statements expressing their commitment to continued dialogue. They confirmed that the “next round of talks will take place on July 20, 2025” , with the hope that further discussions will yield a consensus.

While the talks were described as cordial, the failure to resolve the constitutional impasse could heighten uncertainty on the political landscape.

Mustaqbal