Somali President rejects external pressure on election dispute at Kampala Meeting

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has rejected calls for the country’s political disputes to be addressed through an externally imposed roadmap, insisting that Somalia’s internal political affairs should be resolved by Somalis themselves.

The President was speaking during a meeting in Kampala, Uganda, attended by leaders and representatives of countries that have deployed troops to Somalia to support efforts to maintain security and stability, particularly in southern and parts of central Somalia.

The meeting focused on Somalia’s security situation, the future of the African Union-led mission, and the political challenges facing the country as it prepares for the next elections.

President Hassan Sheikh’s remarks came after participating leaders called for the development of a roadmap to address the political disagreements surrounding the planned elections and encourage a broad political consensus among Somalia’s political stakeholders.

However, the Somali leader pushed back against the inclusion of Somalia’s internal political affairs in the communique issued after the meeting.

“Political matters that are internal, and with your guidance, your support and your advice, we will do that homework by our own and not in this communique,” President Hassan Sheikh said.

He emphasized that Somalia’s domestic political affairs should not be internationalized or regionalized, warning that the government would not accept attempts to place the country’s internal political disputes on the agenda of international and regional organizations.

“Local politics of Somalia must not be internationalized or regionalized. This communique is going to the African Union, to the United Nations, to everywhere. Somalia is not in a position to accept that,” he added.

The meeting comes amid growing concerns over the future financing of the African Union mission in Somalia and the country’s continuing political deadlock. The United States has reportedly declined to fund the African Union mission, with political disagreements and the lack of consensus over Somalia’s electoral process among the issues cited in discussions surrounding international support.

The meeting of troop-contributing countries underscores the continued international and regional interest in Somalia’s security and political stability. However, President Hassan Sheikh’s remarks signal that while Somalia welcomes international support on security and stability, it remains opposed to external actors taking a direct role in determining the country’s internal political arrangements.

The President’s position also highlights the delicate balance between Somalia’s reliance on international and regional partners for security assistance and its desire to maintain sovereignty over domestic political processes, including the organization of future elections.

Mustaqbal