Somalia Government, opposition set to resume election talks in Mogadishu

Somalia’s federal government and opposition groups are set to resume political dialogue in Mogadishu this week as negotiations continue over the country’s electoral framework ahead of the 2026 elections.

The talks, scheduled for Monday, July 20, will bring together representatives of the Federal Government and three opposition blocs—the Somali Future Council, the National Unity Council, and the Nabad iyo Nolol (Peace and Development) group. The dialogue will once again be facilitated by Türkiye.

The meeting follows an earlier round of negotiations held on July 9, during which both the government and opposition presented competing proposals for Somalia’s electoral model.

A government representative involved in the negotiations told local media that Mogadishu is fully prepared for the next round of discussions and remains committed to reaching an agreement, while maintaining that it will not compromise on what it describes as the interests and aspirations of the Somali people.

According to the official, the current negotiations are focused exclusively on the electoral process, with constitutional issues not forming part of the agenda.

Key areas of disagreement include the scope of the proposed one-person, one-vote elections and the structure of the electoral management body. While the opposition supports direct elections, some opposition factions have proposed holding the vote only in selected cities. The federal government, supported by some opposition figures, has instead called for elections to be conducted nationwide.

The two sides also remain divided over the administration of the polls. Some opposition groups have proposed establishing separate federal and state-level electoral commissions, while the government has advocated for a single national electoral commission.

Monday’s talks are expected to focus on reconciling the competing proposals in an effort to produce a unified electoral framework acceptable to both the government and opposition, paving the way for broader political consensus ahead of Somalia’s next elections.

Mustaqbal