Mogadishu (Somalia Today) – The African Union and the United Nations have urged Somalia’s political leaders to return to negotiations after talks between the federal government and the opposition Somali Future Council ended without agreement, prolonging a dispute over elections and constitutional legitimacy.
The talks, held in Mogadishu from May 13 to 15, aimed to ease tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government and opposition leaders over Somalia’s electoral model.
But the African Union Commission said the negotiations had “concluded without a consensus”, warning that Somalia’s rival political camps should avoid hardening their positions at a sensitive moment for the country.
The Commission commended “the willingness” of the federal government and opposition leaders “to engage in direct and inclusive dialogue in the higher interest of Somalia and the Somali people.”
It called on all political stakeholders to “promptly recommit to an inclusive and substantive political dialogue through genuine negotiation, mutual compromise, and strict adherence to constitutional order.”
Electoral dispute
The collapse of the talks leaves unresolved the central question of how Somalia will conduct its next national election.
Mohamud’s administration has pushed for a direct electoral system, arguing that universal suffrage would move Somalia away from the indirect clan-based model that has shaped federal elections for years.
The opposition and some regional leaders say any electoral transition must rest on a broad political agreement and credible safeguards, including independent management and consensus on timelines.
The dispute has intensified around the government’s electoral plans and constitutional changes adopted by parliament, which opposition groups say were pushed through without sufficient national consensus.
The Somali Future Council entered the talks demanding an end to what it described as unilateral election steps and a mediated political agreement before the expiry date, it says, applies to the president’s mandate.
The government argues that the transition to a direct vote is necessary to complete Somalia’s long-delayed democratic process and prevent the country from remaining trapped in repeated elite bargains.
Opposition figures say a rushed or disputed process could instead trigger another political crisis.
UN warning
The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNTMIS, said it welcomed the resumption of dialogue and appreciated the efforts of international partners who supported the discussions.
“It is regrettable, however, that once again the dialogue concluded without resolving key disputes,” the mission said in a statement.
UNTMIS said it noted the parties’ stated commitment to continue dialogue and identify “a constructive way forward”, but urged the federal government to engage all stakeholders as Somalia enters a period of transition.
The mission said Mogadishu should prioritise consensus on “an electoral model that is practical and unifying”, a wording that underscored international concern that a disputed process could deepen fragmentation.
UNTMIS also called for restraint and said it was ready to work with other international partners to support efforts to overcome divisions among Somalia’s political leaders.
Pressure on leaders
The AU also reaffirmed its commitment to Somalia, including through the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, AUSSOM, and praised the continued facilitation of the UN, the AU and bilateral partners.
AUSSOM replaced the previous AU mission as Somalia and its partners work towards a security transition intended to give Somali forces greater responsibility for the fight against al-Shabaab.
That transition is unfolding while Somalia faces persistent attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked group, political disputes between Mogadishu and some federal member states, and a worsening humanitarian situation driven by drought, displacement and funding shortages.
The UN mission urged Somalis to come together not only over elections, but also to address “the country’s severe humanitarian crisis and the persistent threat posed by terrorism.”
The warning reflected concern among diplomats that Somalia’s political crisis could distract leaders from urgent security and humanitarian priorities.
Al-Shabaab continues to stage deadly attacks despite government offensives, while millions of Somalis remain vulnerable to hunger and displacement.
Somalia has repeatedly struggled to hold elections on schedule, with delays often leading to political standoffs among the presidency, parliament, regional leaders, and opposition figures.
