The Somali Future Council has issued a renewed call for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to bring all political stakeholders together within one month to establish a clear electoral framework. In a statement released Monday, the council warned that further delays could precipitate a constitutional and security crisis.
The appeal followed a meeting of the council’s Technical Committee in Garowe, where members cautioned that a failure to reach consensus threatens to create a dangerous political vacuum, undermining stability and potentially empowering militant groups.
The statement further indicated that should the president not engage in dialogue, political actors may need to pursue alternative measures to ensure timely elections and avert what the council termed “constitutional paralysis” and a resurgence of insecurity.
Discussions in Garowe centered on formulating a negotiation roadmap for Somalia’s elections, based on resolutions from the prior Kismayo Conference, which had stressed the need for dialogue and consensus among leaders.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose term concludes in under six months, has consistently advocated for a transition to a direct, one-person, one-vote electoral system, rejecting a return to the indirect model of past cycles. The administration maintains that direct elections are crucial for democratic legitimacy and sustained state-building.
Opposition figures counter that the prerequisites for a secure and logistically sound nationwide direct vote are not yet met. They argue that proceeding without a broad agreement could intensify political fractures and that a consensus-based approach remains the only feasible option under current circumstances.
While expressing a willingness to collaborate with the president on an improved electoral process, the opposition has emphasized the urgent necessity of substantive negotiations.
Somalia has a history of election-related crises over the past decade, where postponements and disagreements have frequently led to political deadlock and heightened security risks. Analysts caution that without compromise, the nation risks repeating cycles of instability amid ongoing challenges from insurgency and economic pressures.
The Future Council affirmed that inclusive national consultation is the sole viable path to prevent confrontation and guarantee a credible transition, urging leaders to prioritize national unity and stability over unilateral action.
