Mogadishu – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced on Saturday that the federal government is open to dialogue and compromise with opposition leaders, even as a major opposition conference continues in Kismayo.
Speaking in Mogadishu, President Mohamud stated that the ongoing Somali Future Council meeting in Kismayo should yield constructive proposals that both the government and the Somali public can engage with.
“To the brothers in Kismayo: if you convene and reach an agreement, bring forward something the Somali people can understand,” the President said. “We are not preventing anyone from traveling to Kismayo or closing airports. Bring us proposals that the Somali people can accept. We are ready to compromise.”
The President disclosed that political discussions between the government and opposition figures have been ongoing for the past two months, focusing on critical national issues. He emphasized that mutual understanding is more important than rigid stances, cautioning against prolonged political deadlock.
President Mohamud noted that while some politicians accepted the government’s views and others rejected them, all points of agreement have been forwarded to the Federal Parliament for legal review and implementation.
“I do not understand the logic that something could not be agreed upon at the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu but could suddenly be settled in Kismayo—forming parties and taking positions there,” he remarked.
The President also warned against any slide toward armed confrontation, stressing that Somalia must prevent political disputes from escalating into violence.
“Should a day come when weapons are threatened, it will be prevented in a brotherly manner to preserve the unity of the country,” he stated.
He emphasized that while Somalia cannot tolerate dictatorship, it equally requires political stability grounded in consultation, dialogue, and mutual respect.
The President’s remarks come as the opposition-led Somali Future Council conference entered its third day in Kismayo. The gathering has brought together prominent politicians critical of the federal government to discuss the country’s political direction and electoral future.
