Mogadishu (Somalia Today) – IGAD has urged Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders to continue dialogue after three days of talks in Mogadishu ended without agreement.
The call adds to growing regional and international pressure for a negotiated settlement to Somalia’s electoral dispute, following similar appeals by the African Union and the United Nations.
The IGAD Secretariat said it had “taken note” of the outcome of consultations held in Mogadishu from May 13 to 15 between the Federal Government of Somalia and opposition stakeholders.
“The Secretariat welcomes the direct engagement between the parties and encourages continued dialogue to address outstanding issues in a constructive and inclusive manner,” IGAD said in a statement issued from Djibouti on Saturday.
The talks sought to ease tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government and opposition leaders over Somalia’s electoral model, constitutional changes and the timeline for the next national vote.
But the two sides failed to reach a deal, leaving unresolved the central dispute over whether Somalia should move ahead with the government’s planned transition to universal suffrage or first secure a broader political settlement with opposition figures and federal member states.
Call for compromise
IGAD said sustained political engagement remained vital for Somalia’s stability and democratic development.
“IGAD underscores that sustained political engagement remains essential to safeguarding Somalia’s stability, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the country’s state-building priorities,” the bloc said.
It called on Somali leaders to pursue solutions that “reinforce national unity, strengthen public confidence, and uphold Somalia’s long-term stability and institutional progress.”
The statement came after the African Union and the United Nations also urged Somalia’s rival political camps to return to negotiations following the collapse of the Mogadishu talks.
The African Union Commission said the consultations had “concluded without a consensus” and warned Somali leaders against allowing their differences to become entrenched.
It urged all political stakeholders to “promptly recommit to an inclusive and substantive political dialogue through genuine negotiation, mutual compromise, and strict adherence to constitutional order.”
The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia also called for restraint and consensus, saying the federal government should prioritise engagement with all stakeholders as the country enters a sensitive political transition.
Electoral dispute
The dispute centres on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate, Somalia’s electoral model and the legal status of constitutional amendments approved by federal lawmakers.
Opposition leaders say Hassan Sheikh’s four-year mandate expired on May 15 and accuse the government of using constitutional changes to extend its time in office without sufficient national consensus.
The federal government rejects that claim and says Somalia’s institutions now operate under a revised constitutional framework that gives the government and parliament a mandate until May 15, 2027.
Hassan Sheikh has also defended the push for one-person, one-vote elections, arguing that Somalia must move beyond the indirect clan-based selection system that has dominated national politics for decades.
His opponents say they support direct elections in principle but reject what they describe as a unilateral process controlled by Villa Somalia.
Puntland and Jubaland have also opposed parts of the federal government’s constitutional and electoral agenda, deepening the political rift between Mogadishu and key federal member states.
Regional concern
IGAD said it remained “firmly supportive of Somali-led efforts to advance inclusive governance, preserve peace and security, and secure a stable future for the people of Somalia and the wider region.”
The bloc’s intervention reflects concern among Somalia’s partners that prolonged political deadlock could weaken state institutions, distract from the fight against Al-Shabaab and undermine fragile gains made in security and governance.
Somalia faced a similar election crisis in 2021, when a disputed mandate extension triggered armed confrontations in Mogadishu and split parts of the security forces.
The current dispute has not reached that level, but diplomats have warned that the failure of dialogue could raise tensions if the government and opposition continue to pursue competing claims over legitimacy.
IGAD’s statement avoided direct criticism of either side, but its message aligned with wider international calls for compromise, inclusive negotiations and a political settlement that can preserve stability while keeping Somalia’s electoral transition on track.
